P27-B Manila-Tagaytay toll road eyed

South Luzon Expressway. INQUIRER file photo

Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. has submitted to the Duterte administration a P27-billion unsolicited proposal to build an alternative tollroad that will link Tagaytay to Metro Manila via Cavite and Batangas.

The proposed 29-kilometer tollroad called Tanauan-Tagaytay Expressway is envisioned to be an extension of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), according to a letter submitted by South Luzon Tollway Corp. technical head of infrastructure Norberto Conti to Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.

A copy of the proposal was also submitted to Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar.

SMC president Ramon S. Ang said the Tanauan-Expressway project had been submitted to the government way ahead of any similar tollroad alignment proposed by any other group. South Luzon Tollway is among SMC’s infrastructure businesses.

It was reported two weeks ago that an infrastructure holding firm led by businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan, Metro Pacific Investments Corp., was working on a proposal to build new expressway that will connect Metro Manila to Tagaytay City in Cavite. The P25-billion unsolicited proposal, dubbed as the Cavite-Tagaytay-Batangas Expressway, was to cover 46 kilometers, an official from the Department of Public Works and Highways had said.

SMC’s letter dated Feb. 24 addressed to Tugade and marked as “received” by the department on Feb. 27 said the proposed Tanauan-Tagaytay Expressway was meant to improve traffic flow in Tagaytay City and locate an alternative alignment linking Metro Manila and Tagaytay.

The Tagaytay expressway proposed by SMC was envisioned to start from SLEx toll road 3 passing through Tanauan City in Batangas and the municipalities of Silang, Amadeo and Indang in Cavite all the way to Tagaytay City through the Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway.

The proposed tollroad is designed to have the following five interchange locations that will provide entry and exit access to the expressway: SLEx Interchange; Calamba-Tagaytay Road; Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road; Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo Highway, and Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway.

“We firmly believe that the proposed alignment will provide a safe and efficient route that will aid in resolving traffic congestion and reducing travel time in going to and from Tagaytay City,” Conti said.

“As such, this will further enhance tourism in the area, and improve economic productivity through safe and reliable transport of people and goods in the provinces of Cavite, Laguna and neighboring provinces,” he added.

In his letter, Conti sought Tugade’s approval of the concept design and clearance to proceed in conducting further studies and due diligence, including detailed design, limitations and corresponding cost.

A few years ago, both San Miguel and Metro Pacific submitted separate proposals, using different road alignments, for a connector road that will link the South Luzon and North Luzon expressways. The Aquino administration accepted both tollroad projects, both of which are now under construction.

In the case of the Tagaytay tollroad project, the proposed road alignments are similar. It remains to be seen which proposal will be given original proponent status by the government. –Doris Dumlao-Abadilla