STA. ROSA CITY, Laguna – Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark A. Villar led the partial opening of the first 10 kilometer-segment of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) from the Mamplasan Toll Barrier in Biñan City to the Santa Rosa City-Tagaytay Interchange, two days before Filipino observe Undas or All Saints’ and Souls’ days.
“It is so fitting that the DPWH and MP Cala teams and all the officials who made this project possible because now it’s Undas, the traffic is really heavy in this area, and for making this (partial opening) to this date and for all your efforts, I give you my salute,” Villar said.
He underscored the project that will only take some 10 minutes from the Mamplasan Exit to the Sta. Rosa City Interchange, from 20 to 30 minutes for the whole 10-kilometer stretch with expected traffic congestion upon reaching the Nuvali commercial districts.
“Now, we are able to utilize this CALAX just in time for Undas, expecting a heavy-traffic build-up for the occasion. This will also showcase the automatic license plate recognition system where this technology will allow barrier-less access to CALAX, thus speeding up the movement,” Villar added.
He also lauded MPT and its subsidiary MP Cala for introducing the first of its kind technologically advanced features on the Automatic License Plate Recognition System enabling barrier-less entry to CALAX, IP-based speed detection cameras strategically installed, and high definition CCTV cameras to cover the entire stretch of the expressway to ensure safe and efficient travel by the motorists.
“Sa ngayon, huwag po kayong magbayad at wala pang toll (For now, don’t pay for toll fees). They won’t be charging the toll fees just yet,” he said, adding Undas is a time all people pay respect to their departed family members and friends.
He also told media that “our kababayans” (fellow citizens) will take advantage of the time to do some family bonding and go on a road trip, seeing the benefits of the CALAX opening even on a single lane basis to decongest Laguna Boulevard, Aguinaldo Highway.
He also reported that the CALAX-Laguna segment is 90 percent complete while fast-tracking the remaining 10 percent of civil and groundworks to be fully opened before December.
Villar also commended the DPWH workforce, MP Cala and project proponents for all their efforts, describing this “a huge challenge, a feat where everyone worked together, as a real testament to the people.”
“It’s important that we acknowledge those on the ground who really fought for this “battle” every day for the past two or so years, who have really worked so hard to deliver this project. And we’re doing this not just here, but across the country under the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program of President Duterte,” he said.
“Pasensiya na po (I apologize) if ever there is an inconvenience because it is our goal to end this traffic problem during the term of the President,” he said.
He assured that these simultaneous projects are traffic decongestion projects, stressing “if we don’t sacrifice now, sacrifice down the road, it is better to sacrifice today so that we can quickly finish these projects than suffer the traffic woes in the future.”
Villar expressed optimism that the simultaneous infrastructure projects are well on track to solve the traffic situation, especially by 2020 as other projects will be completed as early as 2019 under the “Build, Build, Build” Program.
Meanwhile, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) subsidiary MP Cala Holdings, Inc (MPHI) president and general manager Roberto “Bobby” Bontia said a single lane opened Wednesday until 10 p.m.
The partial single lane toll-free opening covers from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Oct. 31 (Friday) until Nov. 2 (Saturday) during the Undas holiday.
“For the daily access time starting Nov. 3 (Sunday) to Nov. 7 (Thursday), we agreed with DPWH that it will be from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and giving extended time on weekends from Friday to Saturday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. This will only be temporary, until the remaining works for these first subsections are completed,” Bontia said.
He also reminded the public to drive safely and observe relevant traffic rules while travelling along the partially opened lane and assured that as soon as relevant certifications and permits from DPWH and Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) are issued, “full access to the completed lanes and other interchanges and 24-hour commercial operations shall be possible.”
The 45-kilometer CALAX is designed to be a four-lane, tolled expressway that will connect CAVITEX in Kawit to South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) at their Mamplasan Interchange in Binan Laguna.
CALAX will have interchanges in eight locations–Cavitex Connection to Open Canal Road, Governor’s Drive, Silang, Silang East, Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay, Laguna Blvd., Technopark to Greenfield before SLEX. (PNA)
By Saul Pa-a
