MPIC tollway unit targets to secure NLEX-SLEX Connector Road

After winning the long-term concession of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and the multi-billion construction contract for the CaviteLaguna Expressway (CALAX), the Metro Pacific Group is eyeing to secure next the overdue project to connect the North and South Luzon Expressway (NLEX-SLEX).

Ramon Fernandez, president of the Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corp. (MPTDC), said their negotiation with government is still ongoing regarding the planned Swiss Challenge on the Metro Pacific Group’s unsolicited proposal to spend billion to construct the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road.

“We are still negotiating with government over the terms of the Swiss challenge. The cost of the project itself should be negotiated,” Fernandez said, adding that the final project cost will be dependent on the outcome of the negotiation.

To recall, the MPTDC, through its unit Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC), first submitted its unsolicited proposal to construct the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road in 2010. MNTC was ordered to form a joint venture with State-run Philippine National Construction Corp., which holds the franchise of NLEX. But the Aquino Administration eventually reverted back to the unsolicited proposal mode, which will subject MNTC’s unsolicited proposal to competing proposals under a Swiss challenge.

Given the five-year period that has lapsed, a reassessment of the cost is necessary also because construction of the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road will be affected by the planned North-South Commuter Rail (NSCR), which will rise above the Philippine National Railways’ (PNR) right of way.

DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said they already got the concurrence of the PNR and the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to build the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road side-by-side at the same level of the planned NSCR.

Despite the ongoing negotiation between MPTDC-MNTC and the DPWH, Fernandez said “it is till feasible to finish the Swiss challenge this year.”

According to Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center executive director Cosette Canilao, the Swiss challenge will take at least 60 days to complete.

“The Swiss challenge is for 60 days. Once we release the bid documents then that’s the time the 60-period will commence,” she explained.

MNTC’s original proposal involves the construction of a 13.4-kilometer, 4-lane elevated expressway that will connect NLEX from Balintawak, Quezon City to Skyway’s Buendia, Makati entry. It also includes a five-kilometer common alignment with Skyway’s Stage 3 project.

Aside from operating the 87-kilometer NLEX, MNTC holds the concession of the 94-kilometer SCTEX, after no firm challenged its upfront cash bid for the SCTEX concession.

Just recently, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation’s (MPIC) MP CALA Holdings Inc. submitted the highest premium bid for the CALAX project,

billion against billion offered by rival San Miguel Holdings Corp. It is just a matter of time before the DPWH formally awards the project to the Metro Pacific unit.

For its part, MPTDC owns 100 percent of Cavite Infrastructure Corp., which in turn operates the 14-kilometer ManilaCavite Toll Expressway (Cavitex).

Excluding CALAX, the MPTDC operates 61 percent of the total of 320 kilometers of toll roads across the