The government officials of the City of Santa Rosa showed their support to the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) project as they attended the ground breaking of the Laguna segment of the project yesterday, June 19. The ground breaking was held at the Nuvali Spine Road, Barangay Don Jose in the City of Santa Rosa.
The event was attended by officials from both the national and local government. National government was represented by Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar, and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Benjamin Diokno.
The ground breaking for the Laguna segment of the Cavite-Laguna Expressways (CALAX) project was attended by DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade, DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, DBM Secretary Benjamin Diokno, MPIC Chairman Mr. Manuel Pangilinan, MPTC President Mr. Rodrigo Franco, and MPT South President Mr. Jose Luigi Bautista. Officials from the Provincial Government of Laguna, and the City Governments of Tagaytay, Biñan and Santa Rosa supported the event.
DPWH Secretary Mark Villar lowering the time capsule and backhoe bucket.
Santa Rosa Mayor Danilo Ramon Fernandez and Vice Mayor Arnold Arcillas attended the event. Also in attendance were First District Representative Arlene B. Arcillas, Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez and Vice Governor Karen Agapay. Officials from adjacent cities also graced the event.
“Our presence to this event signifies our support to the project as we share the belief that roads will bring more opportunities for people in terms of economic and social development,” said Mayor Fernandez. He added that this project will further boost the status of the City as the Lion City of South Luzon.
Officials of the Provincial Government of Laguna, and the City Governments of Tagaytay, Biñan and Santa Rosa supported the ground breaking of the Laguna segment of the Cavite-Laguna Expressways (CALAX) project
The City of Santa Rosa is headquarters to some of the major corporations in the Philippines like Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines, Inc., Monde Nissin Corp. and Enchanted Kingdom. It is also home to three master-planned communities which are Nuvali, Eton City and Greenfield City. Santa Rosa is also known as the Motor City of the Philippines for housing Toyota Motors Philippines, Honda Cars Philippines, Univation Motor Philippines, Inc., and Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation. The City also serves as home to four PEZA-registered industrial estates that provide employment to thousands of our people. These are Laguna Technopark Inc., Greenfield Auto Park, Santa Rosa IT Park and Toyota Special Economic Zone. As Top Next Wave City of the Philippines, BPO industries have established in the here including INFONXX/KGB, Convergys and Teletech, among others.
According to the project brief, the Laguna segment of the CALAX is an 18-kilometer construction project. It is part of the 45 kilometer closed system modern tolled expressway connecting CAVITEX and SLEX. The project starts from CAVITEX in Kawit, Cavite and ends at the SLEX-Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan, Laguna. The project will have four interchanges in the Laguna area including Silang East, Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road, Laguna Blvd. and Technopark. Objectives include reducing traffic congestion in existing major roads and improving competitiveness of the CALABARZON Region as an investment hub.
The project was awarded to MPCALA Holdings, Inc. of the Metro Pacific Group. Its officers were also present during the ground breaking including Mr. Manuel Pangilinan, Chairman of Metro Pacific Investments Group; Mr. Rodrigo Franco, President of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) and Mr. Jose Luigi Bautista, MPT South President.
*Published in print version (Voice of the South, Vol. 13, No. 6)
