NEWS

By Miguel R. Camus

MANILA, Philippines — Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) is setting its sights on a host of new infrastructure projects, including a P735 billion airport in Bulacan that will open by 2025 and new expressways.

SMC president Ramon S. Ang gave a preview of its plans as the massive Skyway Stage 3 elevated toll road running through Metro Manila was inaugurated on Thursday.

Over 18 kilometers long and a history that spans multiple administrations, the Skyway Stage 3 will link the North Luzon Expressway and South Luzon Expressway, significantly reducing travel time for motorists within key parts of Metro Manila.

With the full opening of all seven lanes of Skyway Stage 3 on Thursday, Ang said the toll road can handle 200,000 vehicles per day or half of the volume of Edsa, one of Metro Manila’s busiest highways.

“This will greatly contribute to decongesting Metro Manila traffic,” Ang said in a statement.

Built and financed by SMC, the Skyway Stage 3 was planned during the Arroyo administration and formally started during the Aquino administration in 2014. From there, it faced a myriad of obstacles—both political and engineering—including familiar issues such as right-of-way.

Ang on Thursday thanked the Duterte administration and the economic team for the “significant role in settling right-of-way issues that delayed the massive infrastructure project for years.”

“This is a game-changer for our economy, especially now that we are still dealing with the pandemic. By providing seamless access between north and south, we also unlock the true potential of our provinces,” Ang said.

Still, SMC said it played an active role in securing right-of-way, buying up proprieties along the project’s alignment. Moreover, it paid for the reconstruction of three bridges: San Juan Bridge, Concordia Bridge, and Sevilla Bridge.

These bridges were located near the project’s path and had to be demolished.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said more projects were being planned to decongest Metro Manila.

“This is just one of 25 projects which we will complete under the Edsa decongestion program,” Villar said in a separate statement.

SMC decided to waive toll fees for the Skyway Stage 3 from Dec. 29, 2020, until Feb. 1 this year.

A Toll Regulatory Board spokesman said the final fee has yet to be set, however, the figure was earlier estimated at up to P90 for an end to end trip.

SMC, a food, drinks, and infrastructure conglomerate, indicated that more projects were on the way, with the largest being its planned airport city in Bulacan province. Ang said the initial phase of the airport will open in four years.

While delayed, the international air gateway will have its groundbreaking within the first quarter of 2021.

SMC will also build and complete two new expressways to the Bulacan airport by 2023.

“Together, we are building the foundation for future economic growth that’s inclusive and sustainable,” Ang said.

The conglomerate said also planning to build the 19.4-km Pasig River Expressway project.

This will be a six-lane elevated toll road along the banks of the Pasig River, linking R-10 in Manila, Edsa, and C5 and decongesting Rizal, Cainta, and Marikina by 2023.

SMC also operates the South Luzon Expressway, Metro Manila Skyway, Naia Expressway, Star Tollway, and Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Union Expressway.

Source: Inquirer.Net