The use of the newly inaugurated Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX), the first public-private partnership (PPP) project awarded by the Aquino administration, will be free to motorists during the first month of its operation.
President Benigno Aquino III on July 24 inaugurated the P2.01-billion MCX, formerly the Daang Hari South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) connector road. The four-kilometer, four-lane toll road links Bacoor, Cavite to SLEX. It involves construction of two segments: Segment 1 which starts at the junction of Daang Hari–Daang Reyna, Elliptical Road or Rotunda, Km 0+000 and ends in Sta. 2 +300; and Segment 2, which starts from 2+300 and ends at SLEX near Susana Heights Interchange, Km 4+000.
The MCX is a PPP project under the Department of Public Works and Highways with Ayala Corp. as the private proponent.
MCX toll rates are set at P17 for Class 1 vehicles; P34 for Class 2 vehicles; and P51 for Class 3 vehicles.
“We are optimistic that the completion of this toll road would improve CALABARZON’s competitiveness as an investment destination,” Public Works secretary Rogelio Singson said.
MCX shall serve as an alternative route from Metro Manila to Cavite and vice versa, cutting travel time by an average of 45 minutes and decongesting traffic in Cavite, Las Piñas, and Muntinlupa area.
It will provide new access to the National Bilibid Prison (NBP) property in Muntinlupa City, which is intended to be redeveloped into a mixed commercial, residential, and institutional estate.
On July 21, Ayala Corp., its 80%-owned subsidiary MCX Tollway Inc. (MCXI), South Luzon Tollway Corporation (SLTC), and Manila Toll Expressway Systems Inc. (MATES) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on the interoperability of MCX and SLEX.
The MOA provides the framework that will govern the interface and integration of the technical operations and toll collection systems between MCX and SLEX to ensure seamless travel access into MCX and SLEX for road users.
MATES and MCXI have also executed a Toll Collection Services Agreement, under which MATES was appointed a sub-contractor of MCXI for the provision of toll collection services for the MCX toll plaza.
MCX is Ayala’s first toll road project under the government’s PPP program. The project was awarded to Ayala Corp in December 2011. It was scheduled to open last June but was delayed due to interconnection problems with SLEX.
