BIÑAN CITY: The Cavite-Laguna Expressway (Calax), a project of MPCALA Holdings Inc. (MHI), a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), shared its plan to showcase MPTC’s role in decarbonizing the transport sector in the country.
“This is in alignment with the company’s commitment to building with the least disruption to the communities and the environment; and supporting Philippines’ first Nationally Determined Contribution commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 75 percent by the year 2030,” said Christopher Lizo, MPTC chief finance officer and senior executive sponsor for sustainability.
Calax, a 45-kilometer high-speed road network connecting the two provinces of Cavite and Laguna, aims to serve around 45,000 motorists upon its completion. Calax operates from Binan, Laguna up to the east of Silang, Cavite. It is set to be fully completed by 2023.
Calax is being integrated with resource-saving and emission-reduction technologies while maintaining the high standard of road safety features of the expressway.
Existing toll plazas of the operational sections of Calax are equipped with solar panels that can power its own operations. The total power output of 116.58 kWp since its installation started in May 2021 has avoided over 10,200 kg of carbon dioxide (CO2), which is equivalent to having planted 304 trees.
Installed solar panels and inverters are expected to be operational for 25 years and 10 years, respectively. All future toll plazas and offices along the road alignment shall have provisions of solar photovoltaic system installations.
Lightings and roadway lightings are installed with LED fixtures, thereby improving the company’s energy efficiency measures. Ongoing and future projects shall utilize energy-efficient equipment not only for light fixtures but also for air-conditioning units and refrigerators.
MHI is also implementing carbon offsetting initiatives by planting trees or creating biodiverse areas along Calax to offset the company’s emission and eventually, vehicular emissions of the customers.
Areas of green spaces were developed in various locations along the expressway, including Mamplasan Entry/Exit (2,500 sqm), Santa Rosa Interchange (8,500 sqm) and Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Entry/Exit (425 sqm).
There are also ongoing landscaping activities at Subsection 5-Silang East Interchange, which shall have a total of 13,800 sqm. The company also targets to plant 20,000 trees by the end of 2022.
By Roselle Aquino, Manila Time
September 19, 2021
