SLEX Toll Road 5, Pasig River Expressway now toll road projects under TRB

The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) has declared the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) Toll Road 5 and Pasig River Expressway (PAREX) projects as toll road projects.

In a statement from its mother agency the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the two roads were declared under TRB as stated in a TRB resolution dated last June 29.

According to them, such declaration was upon the request of—and based on—the proposal submitted by the joint venture of Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC) and San Miguel Holdings Corporation (SMHC).

The TRB technical working group (TWG)—composed of representatives from the DOTr, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Finance (DOF), and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), as well as the private sector—are finalizing the details with the PNCC-SMHC.

TRB Executive Director Abraham Sales was quoted as saying that the PNCC-SMHC Joint Venture made the request for the government to recognize the two projects as toll road projects.

“These have their respective basic design plan. The TRB has given an instruction to the TWG to discuss the details of the project with the JV that will be the basis of the concession agreements. We are also waiting for the JV to submit certain requirements,” he said.

Construction on the two projects is being eyed to start within the remaining two years of the Duterte administration.

Based on Presidential Decree (PD) 1112, the TRB has the authority to supervise, monitor and regulate the construction, operation and maintenance of toll facilities as well as the rates that may be charged.

The SLEX Toll Road 5 is 4-lane divided toll road that starts from the terminal point of the SLEx Toll Road 4 Project at Barangay Mayao, Lucena City in Quezon, and ends at Matnog, Sorsogon, near the Matnog Ferry Terminal.

Around 420 kilometers long, the latest tollway will be composed of eight segments and 28 interchanges namely:

• Segment 1 (Lucena to Gumaca) – 61 kilometers
• Segment 2 (Gumaca to Tagkawayan) – 58.60 kms.
• Segment 3 (Tagkawayan to Sipocot) – 61.40 kms.
• Segment 4 (Sipocot to Naga City) – 39.50 kms.
• Segment 5 (Naga City to Polangui) – 45.90 kms.
• Segment 6 (Polangui to Legaspi City) – 33.60 kms.
• Segment 7 (Legaspi City to Sorsogon)- 57.70 kms.
• Segment 8 (Sorsogon to Matnog) – 62.30 kms.

The project has an estimated cost of P22.6-B (for Segment 1 only) and has an implementation period of 24 months (for Segment 1 only).

Through its legislative franchise, PNCC has the authority to construct, maintain and operate the South Luzon Expressway and Skyway Stages 1, 2, 3 and all extensions, linkages or stretches from any part of the existing toll roads.

Meanwhile, the 19.365 km-stretch PAREX is set to connect Manila with Rizal with a 6-lane elevated expressway that will run over Pasig River.

PAREX starts from Radial Road 10 in Manila and will end at the South East Metro Manila Expressway at Circumferential Road 6 (C6).

The said project will connect and utilize a 2.7-kilometer portion of the Skyway Stage 3 from Nagtahan to Plaza Azul.

Once completed, PAREX will be composed of three segments:

• Segment 1 (R-10 to Plaza Azul) – 5.74 kilometers.
• Plaza Azul to San Juan River (MMSS3) – 2.70 kms.
• Segment 2 (San Juan River to C5 Intersection) – 7.325 kms.
• Segment 3 (C5 Intersection – C6 Intersection)- 6.30 kms.

The project, which was earlier approved in principle by members of the TRB Board, has an estimated project cost of P95.413-billion. Its estimated project implementation period is 36 months.

Photos from Toll Regulatory Board

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