New 4-km Muntinlupa-Cavite road to cut trip by 45 minutes

Metro Manila commuters bound for Cavite province and vice versa can expect their trip to be shorter by an average of 45 minutes with the opening of the P2-billion Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX) this Friday.

According to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the road project—also known as Daang Hari-South Luzon Expressway Link Road—is a four-kilometer, four-lane toll road that connects Bacoor City in Cavite province to the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx).

It is expected to reduce travel time while decongesting traffic in the province and Las Piñas and Muntinlupa. It will also provide new access to the New Bilibid Prison property in Muntinlupa City which is intended to be redeveloped into a mixed commercial, residential and institutional estate, the DPWH added.

“We are optimistic that the completion of this toll road would improve Calabarzon’s  competitiveness as an investment destination,” Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said in a statement.

The MCX is the first Public-Private Partnership (PPP) road project under the Aquino administration and built in partnership with Ayala Corp.

Meanwhile, Ayala Corp. said on Tuesday that its subsidiary MCX Tollway Inc. signed a memorandum of agreement with South Luzon Tollway Corp. (SLTC) and Manila Toll Expressway Systems Inc. (Mates) on the integration of toll payment systems for the MCX and SLEx. MCX Tollway Inc. is the facility operator of the MCX.

“The MOA on interoperability and the addendum provide the framework that will govern the interface and integration of the technical operations and toll collection systems between MCX and SLEX, to ensure seamless travel access into MCX and SLEx for road users,” Ayala said.

Ayala won the MCX project in 2011 when it submitted an offer of P902 million against San Miguel Corp.’s P608 million bid. Ayala will operate the expressway for 30 years.–Tina G. Santos, Miguel R. Camus