PBBM: Cavitex links seen to ease traffic flow in Greater Manila

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday said the three milestone infrastructure projects establishing connector roads for the Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) are the fulfillment of his administration's promise to transform Filipinos’ lives by easing traffic flow in the Greater Metro Manila area.

During the groundbreaking rites of the CAVITEX links to C5 Road (Segment 3B) and to Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) and the inauguration of the CAVITEX C5 Link Sucat Interchange, Marcos said he pledged to carry on the building of infrastructure projects that will benefit the economy and the Filipino people through the Build Better More (BBM) program when he assumed office nearly two years ago.

"It’s not just now Build, Build, Build but Build Better More because Filipinos deserve nothing less than that. So, I stand here today to deliver on that promise," he said.

"These three milestone projects bring to reality our promise to transform the lives of millions of Filipinos, by systematically easing traffic flow in the greater Metro Manila area," he added.

The President said the 1.2-kilometer CAVITEX-CALAX Link would have a "substantial" impact on the road network connectivity from Kawit to the greater Calabarzon region. 

"By establishing a direct connection to CALAX, we also ease the traffic congestion at the busy intersection of Tirona Highway and Centennial Road," he said.

Marcos said the CAVITEX C5 Link Sucat Interchange, which is part of the newly completed CAVITEX C5 Link Expressway Segment 2, will benefit around 23,000 vehicles a day.

The new segment is expected to enhance travel efficiency and ease commute for Filipinos, he said.

The CAVITEX Segment 2 Sucat Interchange is a 1.9-kilometer expressway that will connect Cavitex Radial Road 1 (R-1) from the Parañaque Toll Plaza to the Sucat Interchange.

"I am pleased to have inaugurated this fitting centerpiece that will connect several major roads in Sucat with CAVITEX. With this interchange, motorists will now be able to travel smoothly, safely, and conveniently from CAVITEX R1 to Sucat, Parañaque [City] within just five minutes. It is a dramatic improvement from the usual one-hour travel time via existing public roads from Kawit, Cavite," he said.

Marcos said the CAVITEX C5 Link Expressway Segment 3B is the "final step" in completing the CAVITEX C5 Link Expressway, which would enhance the country's transportation infrastructure network on behalf of countless motorists and passengers.

CAVITEX C5 Link Expressway Segment 3B is a two-kilometer road coming from Sucat Interchange going to E. Rodriguez on C5 Road in Taguig City.

"Upon completion, we expect that the travel time from CAVITEX R1 Expressway Section to SLEX/C5 Road will greatly be reduced from what is now 40 minutes to 10 minutes," he said.

He added these flagship Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects are the results of a "great deal of hard work, thorough planning, and collaborative efforts" of the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) and the Cavitex Infrastructure Corporation, a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation.

"We thank you for making these monumental endeavors possible. We also give our sincerest gratitude to the architects, the engineers, construction workers, the project managers, and all the individuals involved in these accomplishments," he said.

"You are the reason why we can turn blueprints into actual reality, and I assure you that your work, your patience, and your sacrifice will leave a lasting impact on our country and on our people," he added.

President Marcos also announced that the PRA, as operator of the CAVITEX, proposed to suspend the collection of toll fees for all types of vehicles passing through the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway in Taguig, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Bacoor, and Kawit for 30 days.

"This will introduce our new roads, expressways to those who are in need of that transport system. So, we welcome this call and thank the PRA for its initiative to help mitigate the impact of rising fuel costs to our motorists," he said.

Marcos, meanwhile, called on the Toll Regulatory Board to ensure the immediate implementation, for the benefit of the riding and the transport public.

The President said the vision of a Bagong Pilipinas is to create a nation where Filipinos may easily access and traverse communities, while also having a comfortable and productive time as they do it.

"So, let us carry on with that promise that we have made to Build Better More. Let us not just build roads; let us build connections that will unite and bring us closer than ever, and create pathways that will be the stream through which our vibrant society will pulse," Marcos said. (PNA)