Skyway 3 opens; San Miguel eyes more infra plans

MANILA, Philippines — Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) is setting its sights on more infrastructure projects, including a P735-billion airport in Bulacan that will open by 2025 and new expressways, after launching Skyway Stage 3 elevated toll road on Thursday.

No less than President Duterte inaugurated the 18-kilometer toll road that links the North Luzon Expressway and the South Luzon Expressway and cuts travel time within key parts of Metro Manila.

SMC president Ramon Ang said the toll road can handle 200,000 vehicles per day, or half of the volume of Edsa, one of Metro Manila’s busiest highways.

“This is a game changer for our economy, especially now that we are still dealing with the pandemic. By providing seamless access between north and south, we also unlock the true potential of our provinces,” Ang said in a statement.

Toll fees waived until Feb. 1

SMC decided to waive toll fees for the Skyway Stage 3 from Dec. 29, 2020, until Feb. 1 this year.

A Toll Regulatory Board spokesperson said the final fee had yet to be set. However, the figure was earlier estimated at up to P90 for an end-to-end trip.

Ang said more projects were under way, with the largest being its planned airport city in Bulacan. The initial phase of the airport will open in four years.

SMC will also build and complete two new expressways to the Bulacan airport by 2023.

The conglomerate said it was also planning to build the 19.4-km Pasig River Expressway project, a six-lane elevated toll road along the banks of the Pasig River, linking R-10 in Manila, Edsa and C5, and decongesting Rizal, Cainta and Marikina by 2023.