DPWH pushes for CALAX partial opening by Dec.

THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is pushing for the completion the Laguna segment of Metro Pacific group’s Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) project by December despite construction delays caused by heavy rains.

Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar told reporters after an inspection of the site on Saturday the December target is “doable.”

“There are challenges like the weather. But so far they have been resolved… We expect to fast-track the construction of CALAX, Mr. Villar said.

The president of MPCALA Holdings, Inc. told reporters in early July the construction of segments 7 and 8 of CALAX, which are on the Laguna side, is now 45% complete, though delays are expected.

“The target as you remember is December 2018 for segments 7 and 8. But because it’s raining every now and then, the most likely completion date would be first quarter next year,” MPCALA President Luigi L. Bautista said on July 5.

He added, “Very soon we will be launching the impoundment works. The impoundment works are critical there because it’s already raining. We have to build the impoundment so we can complete the carriageway.”

Mr. Bautista noted, however, that the original timetable is to have the CALAX completed by December 2020, so the expected delay is still within those bounds.

The Laguna segment of CALAX stretches from Laguna Boulevard to Mamplasan, Biñan. It is expected to cut travel time between the two points to 10 minutes from the current 20 minutes.

As for the Cavite segment, Mr. Villar said construction is expected to begin by the third quarter after an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) was issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“We’ll start initial construction this year. As soon as we get the ECC, we’ll begin construction. We’re just waiting for the writ of possession from the courts,” he said.

He added that the right-of-way for the Cavite segment is expected by mid-2019.

The Cavite segment of CALAX covers the 28-kilometer, four-lane road with bridges, interchanges, toll plazas and ancillary facilities.

The CALAX project is a 45.29-kilometer four-lane toll road that will connect the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx)-Mamplasan interchange to the Cavite Expressway (CAVITEx).

MPCALA Holdings, the tollways unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), is the government’s private concessionaire for CALAX.

MPIC is one of three key Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in

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