Metro Pacific unit sets 2018 capex at P10 B

Metro Pacific Investments Corp. unit Metro Pacific Tollways South Corp. has set its capital expenditures at P10 billion this year, with the bulk to be spent for projects such as the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAx) and C-5 South Link.

“We’re looking at around P10 billion,” Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. chief financial officer Christopher Lizo said when asked how much worth of capex Metro PacificTollways South would have for this year.

“This is mostly for CALAx and C-5 South Link,” he added.

MPIC through MPCALA Holdings Inc. bagged the contract for the P35.43 billion CALAx under the publicprivate partnership program in 2015.

The CALAx covers a four-lane, 45-kilometer (km) expressway to link ManilaCavite Toll Expressway (CAVITEX) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).

It will start from CAVITEX in Kawit, Cavite and end at the SLEX-Mamplasan interchange in Biñan, Laguna.

MPCALA broke ground for the 18-km Laguna segment of the CALAx in June last year after signing the contract with DM Consunji Inc. for the construction of that portion of the expressway in March of the same year.

The firm expects to sign the contract for the construction of the 27-km Cavite segment of the CALAx with Leighton Contractors Asia Ltd. early this year.

The target is to complete the CALAx before the end of 2020.

In addition to CALAx, Metro Pacific Tollways South is also working on the C-5 South Link.

The first phase of the C-5 South Link covering 2.2-km that includes a flyover above the SLEX and Skyway from C-5 Road in Taguig to Merville in Sucat, Parañaque, and would cost about P2.5 billion.