The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has issued the notice of award for the North Luzon Expressway — South Luzon Expressway (NLEX-SLEX) connector road project to Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) unit Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corp. (MPTDC). STAR/File photo
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has issued the notice of award for the North Luzon Expressway — South Luzon Expressway (NLEX-SLEX) connector road project to Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) unit Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corp. (MPTDC).
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange yesterday, MPIC said MPTDC through subsidiary Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) has received the notice of award for the project from the DPWH.
The contract for the project was awarded to MPTDC, the original proponent, as no comparative proposals were submitted to the DPWH during a Swiss challenge held in July.
A Swiss challenge was conducted for the project as it is an unsolicited proposal received by the government from MPTDC in April 2010.
The project involves the design, financing, construction, as well as operation and maintenance of a four-lane, eight-km elevated toll expressway over the right of way of the Philippine National Railways starting at the junction of the NLEX Segment 10 at C-3 Road/5th Avenue in Caloocan City, and connecting to the SLEX through the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 Project in the City of Manila.
It is expected to help ease congestion in Metro Manila as well as reduce the travel time between NLEX and SLEX to just 15 to 20 minutes from 1.5 to two hours at present.
MNTC president and CEO Rodrigo Franco said in a text message, the acquisition of right-of-way (ROW) is expected to begin following the receipt of notice of award from the government.
Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
Rodrigo said the government has 30 months from signing of Toll Concession Agreement to deliver the ROW.
“We are hoping though that the government can deliver the ROW in sections to enable us to start sectional construction before the 30-month deadline,” he said.
The project will not require fresh equity infusion from MPIC.
