The Philippine Star

Manila-cavite Expressway boosts economy of Cavite

- By ZINNIA B. DELA PEÑA

Cavite has experience­d rapid economic growth in less than a year after the opening of the seven- kilometer stretch of the Manila-cavite Expressway (Cavitex) extension project in 2011.

“Economic activities in Cavite, particular­ly in the towns of Kawit, Noveleta, Rosario, Tanza, Naic and Ternate have practicall­y went into a full swing with the constructi­on of many subdivisio­ns in these areas after we opened Cavitex,” said Andrew Jude Deyto, general manager of UEM- MARA Philippine­s Corp. (UMPC), operator of the toll road project.

The opening of the dual two- lane expressway, traversing Bacoor, has also improved access to the two key internatio­nal gateways of the country - the Ninoy Aquino Internatio­nal Airport and the Port of Manila.

It serves as a direct route for cargo vehicles from the Port of Manila to the Cavite economic processing zones in Rosario and Gen. Trias towns such that distributi­on of goods and services has become more efficient.

Deyto said Cavitex is also seen to complement the government’s interconne­ction project as it will serve as a major road link between Metro Manila and the provinces of Cavite and Laguna with the impending constructi­on of the Cavite- Laguna ( CALA) Expressway project under the Public- Private Part- nership (PPP) program of the Aquino administra­tion.

Cavitex will likewise provide the most convenient and efficient access via Maragondon to the province of Batangas, especially to highly desirable destinatio­ns such as Punta Fuego and Pico de Loro.

“With this infra project, it has also improved the attractive­ness of Cavite as an area of investment with the number of locators in economic zones continuous­ly coming in,” Deto said.

Cavitex, with the addition of the extension, now totals approximat­ely 14 kilometers.

The toll road project is a joint venture between the private proponent UMPC and the government through the Philippine Reclamatio­n Authority. It was built from January 2007 to

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