Got these from an old copy (1996) of Construction Management magazine... to think that these plans are almost a decade old already!... and the future fate of the Skyway Project is still in uncertain...
http://www.pwetko.org/gallery/albums/userpics/10046/skyway2.jpg
http://www.pwetko.org/gallery/albums/userpics/10046/normal_skyway3a.jpg
http://www.pwetko.org/gallery/albums/userpics/10046/normal_skyway3b.jpg
http://www.pwetko.org/gallery/albums/userpics/10046/normal_skyway3c.jpg
http://www.pwetko.org/gallery/albums/userpics/10046/normal_skyway3d.jpg

I love this one... the proposed segment along A. Bonifacio/G. Araneta Ave. - a double-decker!
http://www.pwetko.org/gallery/albums/userpics/10039/skyway1.jpg

:eek2: Sweet thread, apiong! Thats amazing...thanks for showing us this. I think we still have a chance of having all that built. With the economy improving, and the need of a expressway to ease traffic, all of this still could still be built soon. Those interchanges are awesome...i love the double decker too.
Some of those are built though.

How about C6? How will that look like? is it a ground level expressway? That should be good too. What is the status of that?

wow ang ganda. salamat!

galing!

it would be stunning to see all that come up in Manila!! the double decker is sweet!! the models look so complicated too!!! they all seem as if they were in Japan or something!! would've been so nice, damn! and the double decker would pratically have been "right in front" of our house...!!!!

i drove on the skyway two days ago... gosh bitin. imagine driving from quirino to NLEX in like 20 minutes or less... sarap. darn this government sucks. Bakit d na lang re-bid to other firms kung super cash-strapped na ang CITRA and they can't continue with the project? mga 5 year na delayed to ah. para yung hopewell project sa Bangkok...

CITRA (a Indonesian company) is starting to build new tollways here in Jakarta again. They are continuing toll projects that were on hold during the monetary crisis. So i hope they will continue the skyway soon.

thank God. :)

I wonder how much it would cost now. And I thought that it would unclog the commute from Alabang to Makati, etc.. -sigh-

i think what CITRA would do is stage 2 muna and wait for mga a year or two for the company to be profitable muna... or sana they get bullish and build stages 2 and 3 simultaneously para matapos na tong problem sa traffic sa EDSA..... nice sana also kung tapos na yung NAIA expressway, very complementary... Gosh, God help CITRA.

sweet :runaway:

http://www.pwetko.org/gallery/albums/userpics/10046/normal_skyway3c.jpg

this looks old, if i'm not mistaken, the NAIA expesssway connection has to be around here..

sweet :runaway:

this looks old, if i'm not mistaken, the NAIA expesssway connection has to be around here..

yup, those model pictures I scanned dates back to 1996!

It also reflects the major design/alignment changes... for example, the Makati on/off ramps were supposed to enter via Buendia but due to environmental clamor (the trees along the middle island of Buendia/Gil Puyat Ave.), the alignment was adjusted to Arnaiz Ave/Amorsolo St. (to the dismay of some residents there...)

Yup, the NAIA Expressway - Sales Interchange is being built at the location portrayed by picture 3C...

----------------------------------------------------------

An additional picture below: The Sucat Interchange segment of hopefully would be built soon as part of Stage-2 Phase-1 (Construction Management Magazine cover - April 1996)

http://www.pwetko.org/gallery/albums/userpics/10047/skyway4.jpg

http://www.metromanilaskyway.com/stage2/s2.html

looks like they started with Stage 2 Phase 2 first... :runaway:

http://www.metromanilaskyway.com/stage2/images/s2_07.jpg

Didnt you guys say that the NAIA expressway will connect to the skyway? If it will, then the real thing will be better than that model of the Sales Interchange.

haha @ apiong, the off-ramp that goes through Arnaiz ave. and amorsolo is near my condo, and yes it is an aweful sight. But i dont care, its good infrastructure anyways.

nice picture...looks so "un-Philippines":D:D

Classic! Very beautiful....

the Arnaiz on-off ramps really screwed up traffic around Don Bosco.. i remember there was big opposition to the skyway ramps.

nice, superb stuff apiong:okay:

The Pasay road jeepney drivers hated it coz it totally messed up their route...

Actually with the Buendia-to-Arnaiz switch it turned out to be a case of all's well that ends well. Can you imagine if the ramp were in Buendia now? From inside the Makati CBD you'd need to go through Buendia traffic with all those buses just to get off or on it. At least Amorsolo/Arnaiz never really gets as clogged as Buendia since there aren't any buses.

Diba it's an election year in Indonesia as well? I hope it doesn't affect Citra negatively.

I agree, the Arnaiz off-ramp worked out better than the original plans of the buendia off-ramp. It would have really damaged the image of buendia.

Yes it is election year here. The Parliament election is already done, but they are still counting!! It is taking forever, its already been a month!:rant: So far, there hasnt been any violence election related. The presidency election is on July and thats when it really heats up. I hope everything will remain peaceful for that.

well people are getting used to the on-off ramps.. but going to Don Bosco church is hard now... especially from Makati Cinema Square

not really. Just exit Cinema square on Pasong Tamo and turn left into Arnaiz, and there your in Don Bosco! Or you could exit on Amorsolo and go straight, and Don Bosco would be right in front of you!:)

exactly, look at the hassle there;) but people are getting used to it, that's a fact

I see no hassle. It hasnt changed.

What has changed is if you are coming from Landmark or Greenbelt on your way to Pasay, Pio del Pilar or Waltermart. You would have to go through Arnaiz and then turn right on Amorsolo since you cannot go straight because of the ramp. After turning right you have to turn left on Herrara and left again on Pasong Tamo. then you can turn right back on Arnaiz and procede to Pasay....so effectively, you go around Makati Cinema Square.

Yeah, not much added hassle really because the stretch of Arnaiz from South Super to Pasong Tamo has been one-way for ages since even before the skyway. Coming from South Super, most vehicles going to Don Bosco or Arnaiz exit at Don Bosco St. anyway.

It's the Bicutan exit that's really added to the hassle over in that area, and the traffic snarl is also heavily compounded by SM Bicutan.

Yeah, the ramp in Bicutan really took up lots of space. And to make matters worse, SM Bicutan is right there adding more congestion. I like SM Bicutan though, the inside is really nice. Because its one of the newest SMs its one of the best;)

well it took up those space because it wasnt used, so they used it. they will have less space to use in the Sucat Interchange. but Alabang has more space.

MVP's property comeback
Posted: 0:59 AM | Jul. 21, 2004

Victor Agustin
Inquirer News Service

MANUEL V. Pangilinan, the chairman of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and chief executive of Hong Kong-based conglomerate First Pacific Co. Ltd., who is known by his initials MVP, almost lost his and his Indonesian principals' shirt on the Fort Bonifacio Global City project near the Makati business district, but it looks like their First Pacific group is ready to give the Philippine property-infrastructure sector one more try.

To this end, the First Pacific group and a Hong Kong fund company, Asian Avenue Capital Group, are said to have acquired the stake of American International Group (AIG) in the uncompleted Metro Manila Skyway project.

And, according to the grapevine, MVP is also finalizing the details of his group's takeover of the French-Malaysian-Philippine consortium that just recently bought out listed Crown Equities from the South Luzon Expressway-Santo Tomas-Rosario Highway interconnection project.

MVP only vaguely referred to his principals as "Indonesian investors," apparently to include Skyway builder Citra, when he made what apparently was a premature disclosure to reporters Friday of the planned Balintawak-to-Batangas venture.

According to the grapevine, the putative takeover and fund-raising venture is at least a year away from reality, considering the kind and number of negotiations with disparate parties and regulatory hurdles that such an ambitious, yet vital infrastructure deal entail.

If MVP can complete the takeover, the driven ex-investment banker, now riding high for having turned PLDT around, could add "Skyway King" to his titles.

The MVP group plans to finish the entire 35-kilometer Alabang-Balintawak Skyway project, of which only the traffic-starved 10-kilometer Bicutan-Buendia segment has been built because of the regional currency crisis.

For the Skyway to make money, the elevated expressway, according to an MVP aide, must be lengthened and integrated within a greatly expanded South Luzon Expressway, much like its North Luzon counterpart, so that the entire road network could funnel a critical mass of traffic into the more expensive overhead thoroughfare.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
looks like the Skyway may be revived after all!! I'm hoping this will actually materialize over the year...

So non of these are built today?Heck,if those were built, I'm sure it will be a damn big help to the flow of traffic in the metropolis!

wow! i really wish the gov't get the investors to build this, thay could charge a little bit more and i bet people would be willing to pay for the convinience.

i could only imagine the development around the proposed skyway! sayang but hope they would build it =)

hi, evryone here in the south is actualy hoping & praying for the skyway to be finally completed, but i think it would stil take 5 more years, at least, to get everything done. one of our ambassador/professor here never fails to compare our country w/ thailand everytime he lectures on class-its getting sickening alrdy!, and he says bangkok is really way way ahead of manila in terms of infras, they have kuno more than 80 kms. of skyways crisscrossing the city, w/ 6-lanes elevated, & 12 lanes at grade level goin to ayutthaya imagine!!! when during the early 70s twas d reverse, manila has more well-paved manicured roads, while most of bangkok's are just made of soil & gravel-oh well! & not to mention, meron nadin clang subway, & a new airport, kakainggit:-<

yeah... it's sad what happened to the Philippines. I guess it's just like the turning of a wheel. we won't always be on top and those at the bottom won't always sit down there. it seems the Philippines is around at the middle of the wheel and it's either going to back up or continue turning further forward (til we reach the bottom)...

with the corruption, graft, red-tape and bad gov't-investor relationships (i.e. NAIA-3) we really can't expect investors to come in and volunteer to pitch in some money to help the country. according to various taxi drivers in BKK, many of their elevated highways were built by investors and I believe many of them were happy to work with the Thai government. what the GMA administration seriously has to work on now is to clean up the government's bad image being projected to foreign investors who would like to put some money into the country but do not want to take the risk.

have you read the news that first pacific is investing on the skyway....binili yata nila yung share ng AIG....

have you read the news that first pacific is investing on the skyway....binili yata nila yung share ng AIG....

I posted a column up there, but it's not an official article. just some speculations of a columnist from Inq7Money...

haha. wag masyadong maiinggit.. :okay:

yeah, i hope they start the construction of the rest of the skyway, this is the only answer and remedy for the ugly traffic we have in MM.

mhe-ann, sorry but i feel the same way as the others, we are so behind na! kawawang kawawa na talaga pinas! went to bangkok 1992 and they already have part of their elevated highway and until now we onlt have a 10km elevated highway =( sad sad sad

honestly, I feel the same way. I feel bad that there's a lot of corruptions going on... :no:

hay... i don't wanna keep my hopes up. have learned my lesson many many times :)

when erap was ousted... i said woah, an economist could finish it... after 4 years, GMA did nothing to build it....

ayoko na masaktan.... hehe

pero i still have some hope left that one day, i'll be driving from NLEX-SLEX in just 20 minutes at 100-140km/h.... :)

i'm sure the skyway is not dead at all. it's just typical of pinoy to slow things down since it's not top priority. we do need a highway, with toll or not, going to different parts of the metro

pero i still have some hope left that one day, i'll be driving from NLEX-SLEX in just 20 minutes at 100-140km/h.... :)

that would be awesome! that'll be the day... how long would it take to get from Clark to Alabang then? an hour and a half? that would just be sweet!!!

well, i beleive infrastructures like the skyway is what we are currently lacking to be more competitive to our neighboring countires. could you guys imagine how MM skyline would look once they finished the skyway? there would be high rise everywhere.....

yeah i am still willing to give GMA another chance to turn the phils economy around, i hope she could do it now that she started a fresh term.

yeah... it's sad what happened to the Philippines. I guess it's just like the turning of a wheel. we won't always be on top and those at the bottom won't always sit down there. it seems the Philippines is around at the middle of the wheel and it's either going to back up or continue turning further forward (til we reach the bottom)...

with the corruption, graft, red-tape and bad gov't-investor relationships (i.e. NAIA-3) we really can't expect investors to come in and volunteer to pitch in some money to help the country. according to various taxi drivers in BKK, many of their elevated highways were built by investors and I believe many of them were happy to work with the Thai government. what the GMA administration seriously has to work on now is to clean up the government's bad image being projected to foreign investors who would like to put some money into the country but do not want to take the risk.

I think I read somewhere that Hopewell Holdings also had its share of bad experiences with the Thai Government. They built an elevated skyway in Bangkok but got into a lot of disagreements after they built a substantial portion of it. I think the result is a white elephant - an unfinished and unused modern skyway in the heart of Bangkok. Maybe we can ask our Thai friends to give us an update on this.

But it just shows that its not only in the Philippines that investors are finding difficulties dealing with the authorities.

oh yeah... Hopewell something. that's the one on subways.net. it was supposed to be a skyway and skytrain combined, but something happened and it's now known as the HopeLESS project.

one thing to be considered, is the Metro Manila skyway really needed? San Andres to Balintawak was quite quick actually. we might see it finished until Alabang, but the cross-MM part could be postponed until needed. i dont think it is so far

The development of the other main roads like the Coastal Road, EDSA, Roxas Boulevard, et cetera, has eased the dependence of commuters on the South Superhighway/Skyway.

one thing to be considered, is the Metro Manila skyway really needed? San Andres to Balintawak was quite quick actually. we might see it finished until Alabang, but the cross-MM part could be postponed until needed. i dont think it is so far


IT is totally needed. this project was dubbed as the "highway of tomorrow".... super delayed na

why is it needed? Cause we have no intercity, high-speed, elevated highway which cuts through the metro cities and links NLEX and SLEX seamlessly. EDSA could fit my description but the huge volume, inadequate infrastructure (North avenue, rooosevelt interchanges have not been constructed until now!! Oct pa dapat last year nagstart!), and bad roads are posing big problems. I have a another skyway system is built catering to east to west traffic.... Weird naman kasi kung north to south lang dba. So there's fast travel between Manila----->Quezon City...

hi, speaking of skyways & highway infras thingy, does anyone know or can post any details or sketch on the new tunnel-cum-flyover/interchange project along katipunan & boni serrano ave. twas televised lately coz loads of complaints were raised by the motorists saying the project is being done very very slowly, w/ the target completion supposedly on sept 2004, but the dpwh said it wont b finished until feb 2005, & the budget is already spinning out of control!!

yeah, does anybody have any rendering of this construction?... I've been passing through Katipunan and C5 the past 2 days and I am very curious on how would this end up.... should it be a full fly over or a tunnel or a partial tunnel and partial fly over meeting midway....

I can't find one in the internet or even any poster of it...it's been clogging that part of the metro....

loads of complaints were raised by the motorists saying the project is being done very very slowly, w/ the target completion supposedly on sept 2004, but the dpwh said it wont b finished until feb 2005, & the budget is already spinning out of control!!

http://www.dpwh.gov.ph/News_index.asp#14%20July%202004

OK....ohh... those squatters really are our big problem!... you appropriate money for them to leave the place and they squat somewhere else and they just splurge instead of saving.....

what's the flyover for?? is it big? btw, is that flyover along somewhere past Meralco done yet? in Pasig (crossing intersection of Meralco Ave. and Pasig Blvd. i think)... east of Ortigas, right beside the new mc home depot or something.... that took pretty long as well.

what's the flyover for?? is it big? btw, is that flyover along somewhere past Meralco done yet? in Pasig (crossing intersection of Meralco Ave. and Pasig Blvd. i think)... east of Ortigas, right beside the new mc home depot or something.... that took pretty long as well.

- the boni-serrano/katipunan flyover/tunnel interchange will connect the C-5 alignment with the Katipunan Ave. alignment... its one huge project. If you pass by there, from C-5 going to Katipunan, you have to negotiate that narrow winding road going up the elevation from Libis to Katipunan Ave. With the interchange, from C-5 coming from Libis/Eastwood, you pass along a 4-lane (2 each direction) flyover then enter a tunnel and emerge at the northbound lane of Katipunan Ave. going to the Ateneo/U.P. area.

- on the meralco ave/julia vargas flyover, afaik, the're still waiting for GMA to inaugurate it... (its been finished for weeks na!)
:bash:

ahh ok... so it is partially a fly over and partially a tunnel... hmmm... a unique roadway in the metro huh...:D

and yes that flyover on Meralco Avenue is done already....

It would be unique and nice if it was finished. Right now, it makes travel hell for me. All I can see at the moment is one huge hole and an overpass that goes nowhere, not to mention only one navigable lane.

FOUR C-5 FLYOVERS TO RISE SOON

In the next few months, Circumferential Road 5 (C-5) will be filled with construction sites for four additional flyovers, according to Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Simon Datumanong.

The DPWH Chief said the flyovers will be built at Boni Serrano and Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City, Ortigas Avenue in Pasig City, Lanuza Street and J. Vargas Avenue in Pasig City and Kalayaan Avenue in Makati City.

He also said that the government hopes that the construction of these additional flyovers will relieve traffic in the busy thoroughfare which, since it's opening a few years ago, has become a constant traffic bottleneck.

Datumanong revealed that construction of the C-5 - Ortigas Interchange, which will cost government some P656-million, is scheduled to start on August 2001 and end two years later.

The Public Works Department will build the second flyover and a tunnel along Katipunan Ave. This particular project, said the secretary, will start on October 2001 and is expected to be completed by September 2003.

While along the intersection in C-5, the DPWH will build the third flyover along the intersection of Lanuza St. and J.V. Vargas Ave. Costing P398 million, the project involves the construction of 630 meters of road. It will begin on March next year and will be completed by February 2004.

The fourth flyover will be built at the C-5 - Kalayaan Ave. intersection in Makati City. Set to begin on April 2002, the P305-million Japanese-funded project will see the construction of 790 meters of road over a period two year period.

Datumanong also disclosed that aside from the additional C-5 flyovers, the DPWH will also build three interchanges along EDSA, at points where it will meet Quezon, West, and Roosevelt avenues.

Likewise, the secretary appealed to motorists and commuters to bear with the work on the said projects. Likewise, he assured that all efforts will be made to mitigate heavy traffic expected to come along with the said constructions.

hmmm seems like they are doing so much flyovers in C-5. didnt you guys think it would have been better if they just make the whole strech of C-5 elevated?

elevated?... hmm.. I don't think so... because its too costly... anyway... one of those projects (Ortigas - C5) is done, and Katipunan C5 is u/c... the Vargas/Lanuza and Kalayaan are not yet begun...:D

yeah... i agree.. too costly. they can't even build the extension of C-5 all the way to NLEX due to funding and right of way problems.

C-5 ends at UP, right? so if they are to extend it all the way to NLEX, where will it pass through? that area is quite occupied already. They cant just build the highway through Ayala Heights...

The major cause of traffic in MM is that there are not enough alternate routes to the CBDs of Makati and Ortigas, especially from the north. EDSA and C-5 cannot take it anymore. What the really need to do is finish the skyway all the way to Balintawak so that north residents (QC, etc) will have an fast alternate route to Makati through the skyway (exiting in the buendia ramp). It will also make it easier to go from the north to the south of the metro....or vice versa.

C-5 ends at UP, right? so if they are to extend it all the way to NLEX, where will it pass through? that area is quite occupied already. They cant just build the highway through Ayala Heights...

The major cause of traffic in MM is that there are not enough alternate routes to the CBDs of Makati and Ortigas, especially from the north. EDSA and C-5 cannot take it anymore. What the really need to do is finish the skyway all the way to Balintawak so that north residents (QC, etc) will have an fast alternate route to Makati through the skyway (exiting in the buendia ramp). It will also make it easier to go from the north to the south of the metro....or vice versa.

Yes. Right now, C-5 North is putol at UP. I don't know where it will pass through though. Maybe the huge land beside MWSS will be assigned to the C5 North Project. But once it reaches Commonwealth, hindi ko na talaga alam where.

You're right about the skyway thing. EDSA can't take it. C-5 Neither can. That's the real purpose. But unfortunately, our government is too slow. I hope Pangilinan buys a major stake already and get on with this project.

yeah. Pangilinan works wonders. hopefully he'll be the one to propell the rest of the skyway into completion.

Yes. Right now, C-5 North is putol at UP. I don't know where it will pass through though. Maybe the huge land beside MWSS will be assigned to the C5 North Project. But once it reaches Commonwealth, hindi ko na talaga alam where.

You're right about the skyway thing. EDSA can't take it. C-5 Neither can. That's the real purpose. But unfortunately, our government is too slow. I hope Pangilinan buys a major stake already and get on with this project.

C-5 doesn't even end at UP. C-5 ends at katipunan, with an overpass that goes nowhere :)

what do you mean with an overpass that goes nowhere? ah. the flyover sa baba ng st. ingnatius? hehe. grabe. super tanga gumawa ng c5. d magka-align :) only in the philippines.

How will that flyover that they are constructing work anyways? Its a hill. On the the katipunan side they are digging, but on the C-5 side they built a flyover. I'm still wondering what they are doing.

one thing to be considered, is the Metro Manila skyway really needed? San Andres to Balintawak was quite quick actually. we might see it finished until Alabang, but the cross-MM part could be postponed until needed. i dont think it is so far

I totally disagree with you. IT IS NEEDED! As i said in my previous post, EDSA and C5 cannot take the traffic volume it currently has to deal with. We desperately need more major routes from the north and other parts of the city to the CBD (Makati). QC ppl can use the skyway from Balintawak to the Buendia exit with ease once completed... It will also make it easier and quicker for goods and people to move from north to south of the metro (or the other way around).

How will that flyover that they are constructing work anyways? Its a hill. On the the katipunan side they are digging, but on the C-5 side they built a flyover. I'm still wondering what they are doing.

Nevermind...i read the posts in the previous page and they answered my question. A flyover going into a tunnel is quite awesome. That would be great for our road infrastructure.

a flyover then into a tunnel eh? quite common in Europe, but havent seen anything like this in NCR. should be cool, but could take a long time.

imo Skyway can wait. C-5 has not yet even been finished to connect NLEX and SLEX. for short-term fixtures, they shuould improve current roads. Skyway's Magallanes-Balintawak phase can wait, say 1-2 years. besides, the Alabang phase isnt even done

renell, skyway phase 3 (Buendia-Balintawak) has been quoted as highway of yesterday. IT means super delayed and kailangan na ito. There is no seamless highway connecting our NLEX and SLEX systems. We have EDSA, but I consider EDSA as a commercial throroughfare and it is one of the busiest in the world. Mostly commerce traffic passes through there. What about cargo, logistics and the like? They have to mix with saturated commerce traffic thereby being delayed and losing millions due to lost manpower hours. I reiterate that there has to be a direct link from south to north regions and vice versa. It is true that EDSA is also an intercity highway (crossing several Metro cities) but unfortunately volume-wise, it can't handle more traffic.

On the other hand, I think our country can't afford infrastructure such as the Skyway. I think our economy is still way underdeveloped. But maybe if this thing is up, commerce and trade will boom... hopefully. :)

How in the world did we afford to build the first phase of the skyway with no problem anyways? Given time and good political environment, the economy should take off, setting aside lots of funds for infrastructure such as the skyway.

I agree with federal 100%...

@ renell - The flyover part of the C-5 to Katipunan link is almost done, they are just working on the tunnel part now. I'd give it a few more months to complete, less than a year, but i doubt it will finish at September (the target date).

well, say it is really needed. then we should have started it a long time ago (i.e. 2002-3) the skyway was done around 1999, and nothing has happened afterwards. the pillars supposed to connect Skyway to Alabang still stands there, waiting for a road to ply over it. i say if somethings holding it back, either find someone to finish it, or find another plan. and should we follow you guys and build it, high prices should hold truck drivers back. it would be for the occasional middle class cars and the chedengs. can't we find another way to go from SLEX to NLEX directly? turning C-5 into a tollway imo is a good idea.

if we convert C5 to a tollway, nothing changes. It still can't handle more. You just made people pay toll when they passed thru it. It still the same thing. Nothing added. And besides, C6 (parallel to C5) will be a tollway serving your suggestion. But kaya lang, baka magawa to 2020 pa.....hehe

I agree renell, the concrete pillars are old!!!!! very old!!!! :) I hope ramos comes back to term. He really did many projects. GMA is so slow.

Yeah, why make C-5 into a tollway? it doesnt change anything, it might even create more traffic in other routes such as EDSA. It will also make lots of people complain. The best solution is to improve/rehab EDSA and C-5 to make the journey more smooth, BUILD additional commuter lines such as MRT and LRT, regulate bus traffic and BUILD the skyway all the way to Balintawak.

I think the Buendia - Balintawak stretch is more important than the Sucat - Alabang stretch as SLEX is doing fine right now. It doesnt get that congested from sucat to alabang anymore. They also need to fix up SLEX from Magallanes to Paco, it is so messed up with potholes, etc. Magallanes to Alabang is very smooth.

well Greyx, I think so too. And besides, phase 3 ( Buendia-Balintawak) is longer and massive! hehe.

On the other hand, if phase 2 (Bicutan-Alabang) is not done still, one lane on either direction at the vicinity of Bicutan of SLEX (where the Skyway ends) will be eaten forever by the make-shift on/off ramps. I think it is where the southbound traffic comes to an almost halt due to bottleneck conditions.

Those makeshift onramps must go! The Bicutan bottleneck is bad enough! Who's ever heard of a tollway that changes the number of its lanes a number of times within the span of a few kilometers?

i agree Solblanc.

Grabe, I was looking at freeways in Argentina and latin american countries.... damn criss-cross na mga freeways. Napagiiwanan na talaga tayo. GMA is so stubborn.

i didnt say tollway, i said something like a tollway. if you remove the traffic lights, you can have a continious traffic from SLEX to NLEX

sorry, but you said turning it into a tollway in post #69:D Well they are working on a series of flyovers over intersections similar to EDSA to make it continious. And besides, the MMDA set up U-turn slots so that you dont have to stop at intersections (red light no longer means stop:D)

ah shit.. youre right. well tollway or no tollway, it should be continious.

another thing, if the Buendia-Balintawak skyway stretch is done, the prices most likely will be high i doubt trucks will be using it everytime. unless of course, our economic situation dramatically improves.

The should be able to make the skyway's toll fees significantly lower by that time. Jakarta's toll is really cheap, about 30 cents US. So lots of cars and trucks use it all the time.

i think they made the toll of the short skyway stretch so high because they are trying to recover their investments. They are trying to "milk" the existing structure. But everyone knows that it will attract much traffic if it completes the whole stretch making the entire line profitable thereby spreading toll charges on the entire route, IF COMPLETED. I REPEAT, IF EVER IT WILL BE COMPLETED. hehe. grabe!!!!! red tape!

sorry, but you said turning it into a tollway in post #69:D Well they are working on a series of flyovers over intersections similar to EDSA to make it continious. And besides, the MMDA set up U-turn slots so that you dont have to stop at intersections (red light no longer means stop:D)

oh, so that's why they have to put up all those fly overs. i'm so stupid!! haha...

The should be able to make the skyway's toll fees significantly lower by that time. Jakarta's toll is really cheap, about 30 cents US. So lots of cars and trucks use it all the time.


well that could be a long time here. like federal said they will be trying to get back their investments for a long time. and of course, money will keep on trickling.

well, the skyway's exorbitant toll also makes it more attractive. Since less people are willing to pay for it, there are less cars on the skyway, so in effect, you can just fly across the skyway for the five minutes of fun that its worth.

But other than that, I do wish they'd lower the rate. Or better yet, start trying to finish it.

Solblanc : I agree. However, I was surprised to find out one time that even full-load jeepneys (maybe they shared the toll among them passengers) and many cars were using it. Parang Freeway ang dating. Daming cars. But this was on a rush hour...

I hope they finish it to make the line profitable and TRAFFIC FRIENDLY. :)

the skyway is a bit of the "extra lanes" of SLEX. it will be used, but by only the people rushing to go to the north or south. i see it the whole project, if finished, only heavily used during christmas, new year, easter and nov. 1. we have to wait for better economic conditions before we can undertake this mammoth project.

btw, i dont think the high toll fee makes it attractive. it's only in use when people want to go fast becaue they are late, or because the SLEX is full.

btw, Phase 2 is already in process. but it's a long one with small bits
http://www.metromanilaskyway.com/stage2/images/s2_07.jpg

Stage 2 takes place in four phases totalling approximately 13.6 kilometers. Phase 1 continues the Skyway from Bicutan to Sucat, with on/off ramps servicing residents outside SLE. Phase 2 will provide easier access to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and surrounding areas, when the Skyway connects with the NAIA via an interchange at Nichols and continues towards MIA Road and Ninoy Aquino Avenue. Phase 3 will connect the Skyway to the C-5 road via an interchange at the existing Food Terminal Inc., and Phase 4 caps the Stage with the continuation of the Skyway from Sucat to Alabang, leading to the Filinvest Corporate City and Zapote Road.

oh... so the NAIA expressway is part of the planned Skyway. it's not dead after all!

oh... so the NAIA expressway is part of the planned Skyway. it's not dead after all!

exactly!

and regarding to the toll fees - they should have made the fees much cheaper so that the volume of cars will be larger. They might be able to get the return of their investment by the large volume of users, rather than less cars for a higher price. Also, many people dont use it because they dont really see the need for using it. the skyway really needs to be longer for more usage. And as i said before, the stretch to Balintawak should be the priority.

i was reading the MM skyway website, and actually C-6, which is a circumferential road like C5 except it's a tollway, is the final phase of Skyway. and so when this project finishes like planned, and we hope it does just dunno when, it will look like a big P.

oh.... yeah, yeah... i get it! hahaha... that'd be pretty cool! a big P right smack on Metro Manila. hahaha..!

i could sense it wil never be their plan to bring down the toll fees coz the demand will stay the same, so theyre thinking malulugi lang cla. i think. so kung mas mura parin sa baba, dun parin cla.

i haven't seen a tollway reduction without some sort of gov't plea. or it just goes down just after they increased it by a lot.

subsidize!! maybe the government could subsidize... (its just a thought, the government could lose out if they do)

btw, i dont think the high toll fee makes it attractive. it's only in use when people want to go fast becaue they are late, or because the SLEX is full.

btw, Phase 2 is already in process. but it's a long one with small bits
http://www.metromanilaskyway.com/stage2/images/s2_07.jpg

Stage 2 takes place in four phases totalling approximately 13.6 kilometers. Phase 1 continues the Skyway from Bicutan to Sucat, with on/off ramps servicing residents outside SLE. Phase 2 will provide easier access to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and surrounding areas, when the Skyway connects with the NAIA via an interchange at Nichols and continues towards MIA Road and Ninoy Aquino Avenue. Phase 3 will connect the Skyway to the C-5 road via an interchange at the existing Food Terminal Inc., and Phase 4 caps the Stage with the continuation of the Skyway from Sucat to Alabang, leading to the Filinvest Corporate City and Zapote Road.

What about phase 1 and 4? the important one.... :bash: awww

Here it is:

http://www.metromanilaskyway.com/stage3/images/s3_06.jpg


http://www.metromanilaskyway.com/stage4/images/s4_07.jpg
http://www.metromanilaskyway.com/stage4/images/s4_11.jpg
http://www.metromanilaskyway.com/stage4/images/s4_12.jpg

I do not understand where phase 3 will go through. If you look at a Metro Manila map, there is no major road that links Quirno ave to a. Bonifacio and Balintawak. In addition, those areas are very CROWDED, making it very difficult to construct an elevated highway all the way to Balintawak. Also very expensive. I will applaud them if/when they do it. If anyone has more info on phase 3, please share it. The map they show here is very simple, but doesnt give the details on where phase 3 will actually pass.

The website even says...

"Stage 3, a 16-kilometer elevated artery, cuts through central Metro Manila from Buendia to Balintawak, winding through Quirino Avenue, Sta. Mesa, Araneta Avenue, and A. Bonifacio, completing the Skyway link from Alabang to Balintawak. These are heavily populated areas, teeming with commercial establishments, residences, universities, pedestrians, and commuters, making this stage perhaps the most challenging."

Metro Pacific chief named Citra COO
Posted: 4:57 PM | Aug. 27, 2004

METRO Pacific Co. said Friday its president and chief executive officer Jose Ma. Lim has been appointed chief operating officer of Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp. (Citra).

Metro Pacific has a minority stake in Citra, which is developing an integrated tollway system, connecting Balintawak in metropolitan Manila and Batangas City.


In a disclosure, Metro Pacific said Lim will handle the day-to-day operations of Citra, particularly efforts to craft a new business plan and undertake corporate and financial restructuring of the company.

Lim will also have the tasks of appointing a new chief financial officer and of attracting new investors and capital.

Metro Pacific said Lim would work closely with current Citra President and Chief Executive Cesar Quiambao.

"Citra and Metro Pacific believe an integrated tollway system, connecting Balintawak to Batangas City, will significantly reduce travel and cargo transportation times and costs," Metro Pacific said.

"Such a system would provide a significant impetus for national economic growth, as well as improved economic prospects for all current tollway stakeholders."

--->no news though on when phase 2 and 3 will start :bash: :bash: :bash:

well there's indication it is still in the table. they continue to mention it, which means they haven't given it up yet.

And since it is now handled by the head of Metro Pacific, i'm inclined to be optimistic!

---->You're right GreyX.... there are movements... :)
Time to revive optimism... :)

First Pacific wants bigger stake in Skyway firm
Posted: 2:40 AM | Aug. 31, 2004

Clarissa S. Batino

printable version email a story write the editor feedback


HONG KONG -- First Pacific Co. Ltd wants to increase its stake in the Indonesian-controlled company that operates the Skyway in Metro Manila so it could help raise at least P12.5 billion for the upgrade and integration of the South Luzon Expressway (Slex) all the way to the Port of Batangas, south of Manila.

"We would like this to be a joint venture between ourselves and the Indonesian firm," said First Pacific managing director and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan.


The 9.3-kilometer Skyway is a joint venture of state-owned Philippine National Construction Corp. and Indonesian firm P.T. Citra Lamtoro Gung Persada through Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp.

Metro Pacific Corp., a Philippine subsidiary of First Pacific, currently owns 10 percent of Citra Metro Manila through Metro Strategic Infrastructure Holdings Inc.

Pangilinan said the South Luzon highway project would entail three major capital expenditure items. He said P10 billion would be needed to connect the major arterial highways from Alabang town in Metro Manila to Calamba town in Laguna province, and from Calamba to Santa Rosa town in laguna.

Another P2.5 billion will be spent for the integration of Lipa City in Batangas province to the Batangas port, Pangilinan said. A still undetermined amount will be needed to upgrade the existing Skyway and Slex, he added.

Of the required funds, 70 percent will come from loans and official development assistance and 30 percent will be equity from Citra and First Pacific, he said.

First Pacific had its first board meeting on the project with Citra last week, Pangilinan said. It was at this meeting that a stronger role for First Pacific through Metro Pacific was raised, he said.

Metro Pacific president Jose Maria Lim was appointed as chief operating officer of Citra Metro Manila at last week's board meeting.

"Metro Pacific will take a more active role in the project," Pangilinan said. "This will give us more equity participation. We are also looking for new capital for the project as well as debt restructuring."

The group has hired Japanese consultants to gain access to Japan's ODA, he said.

"You have to have a total business plan to make it work," Pangilinan said. "You can't just approach the project like salami, where you slice everything up."

First Pacific will present to the Citra board in the next few weeks the other details of the proposed project, he said.

Pangilinan said the rehabilitation of the Slex and its integration with the contiguous road development like the Skyway and Star Highway was included in the priority infrastructure program of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's administration.

The 30-kilometer Slex, running from Alabang to Calamba, is in urgent need of rehabilitation.

Estimates by the state-owned PNCC put repair and improvement of the Slex at more than P1 billion and its link-up to the Star express in Cavite province, south of Manila, at P4 billion.

The Department of Trade and Industry has proposed creating a P200-billion Philippine Infrastructure Corp. to fast-track the improvement of roads and other facilities needed to attract more investors.

it's about time they started rehabilitating the Alabang-Calamba stretch. the whole NLEX is being repaired, why can't the whole of SLEX be.

Finally! Thats very good news! It about time the rehabilitate SLEX. Now that NLEX is world class, SLEX needs to be...and it will be:) I know that Metro Pacific can do it, Pangilinan is overflowing with money because of SMART and PLDT.:okay:

off topic, but my dad met him lots of times (in business meetings) because my dad is connected to PLDT, and might be even because Pangilinan wants to hire my dad in a number 2 position in a PLDT subsidary:D hehehe

is that why there was a chance of going to MIS? :D

off topic, but my dad met him lots of times (in business meetings) because my dad is connected to PLDT, and might be even because Pangilinan wants to hire my dad in a number 2 position in a PLDT subsidary:D hehehe
whhoow! :bow: yaming. :cheers:

oops grammar error "and might be even more because Pangilinan...":D hehe

Renell, yup thats why i almost went to ISM for my senior year. Well im still here in Jakarta, but they (my dad and Mr. Pangilinan) are still talking.:)

oops grammar error "and might be even more because Pangilinan...":D hehe

Renell, yup thats why i almost went to ISM for my senior year. Well im still here in Jakarta, but they (my dad and Mr. Pangilinan) are still talking.:)

You studied in the ISM in Fort Boni nowadays? Cool :) I study in somewhat the same school you're studying as well, so yeah :) haha.

No, i dont study in ISM. I said i almost transfered to ISM:D Right now im still at Jakarta (you know what school;)).

Oh, ic ;) How do you describe your school in terms of education and athletics, etc? :) sorry that it doesn't even go with the topic which the skyway, lol.

yeah we are off topic but anyways...My school is always at the top of IASAS (ISM is one of the members). My school and SAS (Singapore American School) are usually the ones going for the golds in IASAS competitions. ISM is usually middle to last, sometimes on top. As for education, my school is one of the top again out of the IASAS schools, even compared to all the IS schools all over the world...And the school's campus is an open campus unlike the school building of ISM.

I think we should make a new thread about what we're talking about, lol :D Anyway, wow, seems like you have a great school over there. Our school is part of some organization too, same thing as what you guys are part with... So yeah. :D We also have an open campus, although our campus is so far, lol.

Yeah your school is pretty good, from what i hear. ISM is improving now, since their move to BGC. When they were still in Bel-Air, they didnt do so well compared to other IASAS schools because of their inferior facilities. Their newer BGC campus has a lot of great stuff.

Hahah yep, I agree, when I went there, I almost got lost there. Definitely better facilities now. They have lots of students now, I think. :D

Ok i will. I will also remove the name of other schools because i dont think its good.:)

We should go back to the topic....MM skyway. So where were we on the skyway issues???:D

the last thing i remember that was related to Skyway was its route through MM...

METRO Pacific Co said its president and chief executive officer, Jose Maria Lim, has been appointed president and chief executive of Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp.

Lim replaces Cezar Quiambao, whose resignation has been accepted by Citra's board of directors.

Metro Pacific has a minority stake in Citra, which is developing an integrated tollway system, connecting Balintawak in metropolitan Manila and Batangas City, to the south of the capital.
http://money.inq7.net/breakingnews/view_breakingnews.php?yyyy=2004&mon=09&dd=20&file=6

Prior to his new appointment, Lim was recently named chief operating officer of Citra.

"He is presently crafting a new business plan for the company that will lead to the completion of the Skyway project and restore value to its shareholders," Metro Pacific said in a press statement.

The Skyway is an elevated urban tollway.

Metro Pacific's parent firm, Hong Kong-listed First Pacific Co Ltd, plans to expand its investment in Philippine infrastructure through additional equity in Citra.

First Pacific chairman Manuel Pangilinan said it will help Citra raise at least 12.5 billion pesos to finance its projects.

-------------------

I remember that the current finished segment of the skyway cost somewhere PhP 8 billion back then... so I guess 12.5 billion can cover at least the completion of the southern skyway segment (from bicutan to alabang, inclusive of the sucat, alabang and c-5 interchanges)

Completing this project now will be much more expensive as it was before....but it will be finished, especially under new management. Just give it more years;)

Any news on when they will start the next phases of the skyway?

nada :(

Actually there is!:cool: Originally posted by mysaong03 in the good news thread:

"the PhP2.35-billion Metro Manila Skyway Extension from Bicutan to Alabang which is expected to run from March 2005 to 2007;

For the Skyway extension, the DPWH will construct the foundations and columns from Bicutan to Sucat next year, and from Sucat to Alabang in 2006. The Philippine National Construction Corp. will build the elevated roadway from 2006 to 2007."

yup, and that news also made its way here: http://asia.news.yahoo.com/041222/4/1tjdi.html

taken from an article in INQ7.net

"Mendoza said they were instead considering building a perimeter road that would connect Terminal 3 to Terminal 1. A plan to link Terminal 3 to the skyway is also in the works, he added."

wouldnt this be great?? direct access from the skyway to the NAIA-3?? hopefully all this works out really soon..

the pillars for the NAIA3-skyway on/off ramps are already constructed. They're just bidding out who's gonna build the road part.

grabe.. every part ng exrpessway may bidding? i though it was a complete package 1? it's so slow...

that's the NAIA-3 Expressway, right...? yeah, it would be great to have direct access to the new international terminal from the Skyway. especially for people coming from and going to the south. I guess it's also one way to increase the use of the elevated tollway.

nice to hear they're done the work on the pillars. how does it go into T3? I was going over the DPWH website the other day and came across a bid advertisement thing for some work on the NAIA-3 EX. I forgot what it was on though, and the PDF file is gone now. it probably is for the elevated road surface, like Solblanc has said. I guess they're almost ready for/already done the bidding?

I was going over the DPWH website the other day and came across a bid advertisement thing for some work on the NAIA-3 EX. I forgot what it was on though, and the PDF file is gone now. it probably is for the elevated road surface, like Solblanc has said. I guess they're almost ready for/already done the bidding?

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY TO BID

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) invites interested contractors to apply for Eligibility and to bid for the following contract:

Name of Project/Location : NAIA Expressway and Its Related Projects, Phase I Package IV-A – Sales Down Ramp/Pasay City

Estimated Construction Cost : P 510.00 Million

Proposed Contract Duration : Twelve (12) months

Source of Fund : GOP/Local Funds

Scope of Work :
a) Widening and improvement of the southbound carriageway of Sales Street which involves placing of embankment from borrow materials; aggregate subbase and aggregate base course, laying of bituminous concrete surface course, 100mm thick, hot-laid; construction of concrete curb and gutter; construction of new sidewalk/fence; pavement markings, roads signs and other appurtenances.
b) Construction of a cast-in-place RC and PC voided slab viaduct, founded on bored piles (1200, 2200, 2500mm dia.) with 75mm thick bituminous concrete overlay, inclusive of railings, pavement markings, road signs, storm drain facilities and other appurtenances.
c) Construction of 250mm thick PCCP ramp on mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall structure inclusive of MSE wall panels, structural backfill, aggregate subbase and base courses, railing, deck drains, pavement markings, road signs and other appurtenances.
d) Construction of new drainage structures to be integrated with existing drainage system.
e) Provision of street lighting and distribution system.

This is how the Skyway-NAIA Expressway Interchange will look like: (from the old NAIA3 archive thread)

http://www.pwetko.org/gallery/albums/userpics/10039/normal_naia-expressway1.jpg

yeah... that was the one I saw. thanks for posting it up, apoing. do you still pass by the area often? how does it look now...?

umm... which packages of Phase I have they completed? the road surface of the downramp for construction that is being bidded out above is for which ramp in the picture? what's the diff. between a downramp and on/off-ramps...? hehe...

yeah... that was the one I saw. thanks for posting it up, apoing. do you still pass by the area often? how does it look now...?

yup, I practically pass by there everyday (home <-> UST)

the columns for ramp4 (skyway southbound to naia) are all completed, widening of the sales interchange bridge seemed to have stopped (maybe ROW issues, i.e. squatters and that Manila Water pumping station at the cloverleaf area in the way of the secondary sales bridge), most of the work are now at excavating the bored piles and columns of the other ramps... I have pictures (and plan to shoot some more)... will upload them later...

=absent-minded]umm... which packages of Phase I have they completed? the road surface of the downramp for construction that is being bidded out above is for which ramp in the picture? what's the diff. between a downramp and on/off-ramps...? hehe...

none of the packages have been completed... that bid is for the downramp of all those 4 ramps going into and out of Sales St. (towards NAIA3). Based on the picture, its the downramp structure at the lower right of the image.

the downramp is to merge the on/off ramp into Sales Street level while the on/off ramp is to connect into the Skyway itself.

12 months pa ang construction time? and wala pa ngbid?

so i guess its safe to assume that at the least, the connection between the skyway and NAIA 3 would be done by 2006.. damn long time..

So whats the latest on the resumption of the skyway? When will they start?

Also, any new pics of the NAIA 3 link interchange? The last i saw of it were just its support pylons.

they're stil support pylons....

The pylons take the longest time to construct anyway. The girders are very simple and fast lang as it's precast, it could be done in a months time if they wanted.

There probably is not as great an impetus to speed it up as it goes nowhere while the terminal is not used.

http://money.inq7.net/topstories/view_topstories.php?yyyy=2005&mon=03&dd=24&file=4

PHILIPPINE National Bank (PNB) has approved a restructuring of Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp.'s $134-million loan, in which the principal loan will be reduced and the repayment period lengthened to six years starting 2005.

Last year, government-owned Land Bank of the Philippines also started restructuring its $80-million exposure in Citra to extend the maturity up to 2008.

Citra Metro Manila Tollways, a joint venture of Philippine National Construction Corp. and Indonesian firm PT Citra, spent about $500 million to build the Metro Manila Skyway in 1995, a six-lane elevated highway from Makati City to the Bicutan area of Taguig town.

About 70 percent of the amount was financed with loans from local and foreign creditors.

Inquirer sources said that only PNB and Land Bank had remaining outstanding exposures in the skyway project after other Citra creditors drew on the $134-million standby facility that the company opened five years ago.

The Citra loans had turned sour, leaving PNB and Land Bank with no other choice but to agree to restructure the loans.

As part of the restructuring, PNB has agreed to reduce the principal amount by 1.2 percent, about $1.43 million.

PNB started collecting 3 percent of the principal debt on March 15. The principal will have to be paid every quarter.

In 2006, the servicing of the principal debt will go up to 3.75 percent. It will rise to 4.00 percent in the third year, 4.5 percent in the fourth, and 4.75 percent in the fifth year, 2009.

At the end of the fifth year, Citra would have settled 80 percent of its debt to PNB. The remaining 20 percent will be collected in 2010 in equal quarterly payments.

Citra's contract with the government supposedly involved three stages, which when completed should have provided an overhead highway from Makati City to Alabang town while the ground level from Sucat to Alabang and Magallanes to Bicutan should have been rehabilitated.
-------------------------
BID BULLETIN NO. 5 Metro Manila Skyway Project, Packages 1 & 2 (Bicutan to Sucat)
Eligible bidders for the project are hereby informed that the reception/opening of bids on March 14, 2005 is indefinitely postponed until such time that a synchronized schedule for the construction of the substructure by the DPWH and the superstructure by the private sector is established.
RAUL C. ASIS Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee for Regions IV-A, IV-B and NCR
--------------------------
they really need to restart the skyway for it to reach alabang... that temporary (apparently permanent... :bash: ) on/off ramp at bicutan is really an artificial chokepoint that causes traffic every single day...

but I imagine the toll fee for that finished stretch of the skyway... alabang to buendia could rival that of the north expressway!!! :doh:

regarding last sentence... higher level service and roads only mean high prices... low shit service and low cost roads only mean low prices;)

but I imagine the toll fee for that finished stretch of the skyway... alabang to buendia could rival that of the north expressway!!! :doh:

err, technically, the per-kilometer toll rate of the SLEX (the lower portion too, not just the skyway) is already higher than the per-kilometer toll rate of the NLEX :D

^ absolutely, yet the volume hasnt changed at all. traffic is still 'very' heavy during rush hours, thats why some motorists are 'forced' to take the skyway if they think they would arrive late on their destinations. but even during rush hours, the skyway toll plaza gets too congested, specially on mon & fri. kase naman, there are only 8 toll booths all in all for both directions :)

that only means that we have too much cars in the road:D i guess we can expand SLEX to 20 lanes.. and it would still have too much traffic.

...have a question....maybe off topic....do they enforce traffic laws in MM, i mean do they SUPER INFORCE IT, are there no bribes and things such as "okay" i'll let you go kinda thing....or they do give tickets and citations but is it like..."oh wells, i got a ticket, like they're gonna make me pay, right!?"....let me know...

^ absolutely, yet the volume hasnt changed at all. traffic is still 'very' heavy during rush hours, thats why some motorists are 'forced' to take the skyway if they think they would arrive late on their destinations. but even during rush hours, the skyway toll plaza gets too congested, specially on mon & fri. kase naman, there are only 8 toll booths all in all for both directions :)

for one thing, there isn't a viable alternate route with regards the SLEX (unlike in the NLEX, there's the MacArthur Highway)... though there's the East & West Service Rds., but then again, traffic along it is sketchy at most (due to trucks, and the effect of SM Bicutan) and we wouldn't want all the traffic of SLEX pouring into the service rds... the only alternative is the old highway along laguna de bay (from pasig to alabang thru pateros & taguig).

I guess people are really used to the toll rates at SLEX... we were used to the very low rates at NLEX for a very long time that a sudden increase seemed to have suprised some... but I for one am satisfied with the service & comfort that the equivalent toll rate offers... it is a bit high for some, but I believe in the long run, MNTC & the public will settle on a compromise, worst case is goverment subsidy (just like what happened to the MRT... I remember when it opened, full-line ticket price was PhP65!, I still have one of those tickets priced at P65 with me when I rode it just for fun after its opening)...

in any case, I just hope the "synchronized" schedule that dpwh is talking about in the bid bulletin I posted means they revised their plan to implement a continuous construction schedule for the skyway... their original plan was to build the foundations & columns separately with the roadway one year apart...

...have a question....maybe off topic....do they enforce traffic laws in MM, i mean do they SUPER INFORCE IT, are there no bribes and things such as "okay" i'll let you go kinda thing....or they do give tickets and citations but is it like..."oh wells, i got a ticket, like they're gonna make me pay, right!?"....let me know...
the former one is the norm.

that only means that we have too much cars in the road:D i guess we can expand SLEX to 20 lanes.. and it would still have too much traffic.

i guess so :D. good roads encourages people to buy cars plus it gives them the illusion the economy is doin good, so i guess traffic situation in MM wont change & would definitely get worse even :)

imo...the most important phase of Skyway is Phase III - Buendia to Balintawak. Although the most difficult and most expensive stretch, it will relieve EDSA and C5 from traffic pressure. I'd like to see this built soon.

I think we need a lot of these skyways , like in Shanghai , a totally new ring road within the city from edsa to balintwak then cutting through part of QC back to Makati and another one outer EdSA would be good , plus some more radial ones like the Pasig River highway and one going manila to QC and another going to manila Cainta. Sorry just dreaming.

^Its alright, we all have similar dreams:D Yeah, MM desperately needs a better highway system. MM's main arteries are waaay past their best and capacity. We need to build ring roads similar to those in Bangkok, Jakarta, Shanghai, LA, etc...But for now, what i said above is good enough.

bump! to save this from getting pruned

extreme engineering dating nito, huh :D

^^ yeah, but its not totally cancelled. Its just on-hold. Mr. Pangilinan has taken over the project and he wouldnt have if he didnt have plans to complete it:D

just sad, its been 9 yrs now :cry:, this should cost about $20 billion now :no:

I understand that this is moving, typical of mvp, low key lang then big big announcement. Hopefully they iron it out, one thing good with their group at least it will be maayos, iyun lnag nga hopefully all the way to Meycauayan na!

imo...the most important phase of Skyway is Phase III - Buendia to Balintawak. Although the most difficult and most expensive stretch, it will relieve EDSA and C5 from traffic pressure. I'd like to see this built soon.

like i said in another thread it will probably be harder than thought. It's not just the building aspect, it's the complaints and they time it will take, minus the filo delays. Besides like other BOT projects it will be so expensive it will have very little effect. I don't know this one looks dodgy atm I mean there's been nothing to hear from it so far.

what's the bot law doin nway?? ilan taon na nasayang...

built to transfer law?:?

build operate transfer you mean?

I found from: History, Theory & Criticism Studio Laboratory (http://www.dilnet.upd.edu.ph/HomePages/ca/htc.htm)
And what it says in the front webpage strikes me the most, since the country is progressing and too many unnecessary changes has been made that causes the younger generation and the generations to come to forget about the past.

---

PROBLEMS

There is a prevailing sentiment that the pursuit of progress weakens our anchorage to our past as a people. Development is often seen as synonymous with the erosion of culture and identity.

This perception is brought about by the effects of the process of urbanization and industrialization on the form of our built environment.

The proliferation of skyscrapers, foreign-inspired settlements and state-of-the-art production centers are testimonies to our willingness to abandon what is relevant to us in exchange for the internationally acknowledged indicators of development.

RESPONSES

Dealing with nationalism and development need not always entail a case of choosing one over the other. Filipinos need not pay the high price of catching up with foreign-imposed standards of development.

Strengthened links with our past are enhancers of, rather than impediments to the process of development. Our history is a rich oasis of lessons from which future undertakings can take off.

We need to preserve our historical sites and monuments. Comprehending the psyche of Filipinos can evolve from an understanding of their creations.

Historical sites and monuments are the physical manifestations of unique beliefs and the complicated web of linkages that define social organizations.

http://money.inq7.net/topstories/view_topstories.php?yyyy=2005&mon=11&dd=30&file=5
Posted: 10:42 AM | Nov. 30, 2005
Clarissa S. Batino
Inquirer News Service

METRO Pacific Corp., the local unit of Hong Kong-based conglomerate First Pacific Co. Ltd., is in talks with French firm Groupe Egis on possible joint venture deals in toll road projects other than the North Luzon Expressway and the Skyway in Metro Manila, in which they both have interests, president Jose Maria Lim said.

One of the possible projects being considered is the $200-million extension of the Skyway, Lim told the Inquirer.

"We have a general agreement with Egis to pursue toll road projects together, whether as an investor or operator," he said. "But these are all still exploratory."

The Skyway, a 9.3-kilometer overhead highway that links the Makati business district to suburban Alabang town, could be extended by six to seven kilometers to Bicutan town, Lim said. A third phase estimated at $500 million would connect it with the main road leading to northern Luzon, he added.

The Skyway project is controlled by Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp., a joint venture of Indonesian firm P.T. Citra Lamtoro Gung Persada and state-run Philippine National Construction Corp. Metro Pacific has a 10-percent stake in it, and early this year offered to take over control from the Indonesians.

Citra is "still evaluating" the offer, Lim said. "Meanwhile, we have to look at other opportunities."

There are other toll projects that the joint venture with Egis can look into, he said, but refused to give details.

Metro Pacific chairman Manuel Pangilinan had earlier mentioned the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road, or STAR, highway as one option.

Lim said, "There are other projects in South Luzon but not necessarily the SLEX [South Luzon Expressway]."

Egis has a 13-percent stake in Manila North Tollways Corp., a unit of the Lopez group's First Philippine Infrastructure Development Corp., operator of the North Luzon Expressway.

It is selling an electronic toll network system to highway operators under its unit called Easytrip Services Corp.

The French firm specializes in projects such as roads and highways, airports, railways and other public utilities. It is controlled by Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, or CDC, a financial group and fund manager in Europe.

Crucial issues must be resolved first before Metro Pacific and Egis can pursue the extension of Skyway, Lim said.

"The question is if we can pursue phase two of the Skyway without the participation of the phase one stakeholders," he said. "The creditors of phase one might also become interested."

Citra's contract with the government on the Skyway project supposedly involves construction of an overhead highway from Makati to Alabang and rehabilitation of roads from Sucat Road in Parañaque City to Alabang, and from the Magallanes Subdivision in Makati to Bicutan town.

Citra spent about $500 million to build the Skyway in 1995. About 70 percent of the amount was borrowed from local and foreign creditors.

----------
note: this newsbit may have been cross-posted at the SLEX/NLEX threads...

how much will this affect future skyway progress?

Metro Pacific to be liquidated
By Mary Ann Ll. Reyes
The Philippine Star 03/30/2006

Metro Pacific Corp. (MPC) will either be liquidated or merged with subsidiary Negros Navigation Co. (Nenaco) as part of the First Pacific Group’s plan to rationalize its Philippine investments.

First Pacific Co. managing director Manuel V. Pangilinan told The STAR yesterday that MPC will be delisted but will continue to hold Nenaco and other miscellaneous assets in the meantime.

However, he said that after a period of time, MPC will either be liquidated or merged with Nenaco’s operations.

Pangilinan revealed that Nenaco "is already steadying itself on an even keel and is in ‘danger’ of realizing a profit for the year." The shipping company suffered a P126-million loss in 2005 due to significant provisioning taken against the carrying costs for certain ships.

The of MPC chairman noted that Nenaco is slowly turning around, even as he emphasized that majority of its fleet is already profitable.

He said that selling Nenaco is definitely being looked at by the group, especially with a number of parties already expressing interest in acquiring the shipping firm.

The MPC board has just approved a massive reorganization and recapitalization of the company that will involve the creation of a new company called Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) which will become the new listed and debt-free holding company replacing MPC.

Under the plan, MPC will sell to MPIC its shareholdings in cash cow and real estate company Landco by June this year. MPIC will serve as the corporate vehicle to continue the real estate business of MPC, accept new investments from both existing and new investors, and undertake other future projects.

Landco needs about P4.3 billion in the next three years to fund its expansion. It posted a net profit of P62 million while the second phase of the plan calls for MPIC to offer its shares for all the outstanding shares of MPC on a one-for-one basis so that MPC shareholders will become MPIC stockholders. At the close of this stage, MPIC will own 87 percent of Landco and 100 percent of MPC.

Pangilinan said the infrastructure investments of MPC, such as those in the Skyway project, may also be transferred to the new holding company. "Any future investments in infrastructure will also be made through MPIC," he told The STAR.

MPC is reportedly in the final stages of discussions with the foreign investors in Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) to acquire their stakes in the Lopez-controlled company. The company is also said to be eyeing the acquisition of the transmission facilities of the National Power Corp. (NPC).

Meanwhile, the third stage of MPC’s reorganization calls for the implementation by MPIC of a rights issue to raise about P2.7 billion. Once the rights issue is completed, MPIC will have a total capital of P4.5 billion and will be debt-free at the parent level.

"The new structure MPIC will revitalize MPC’s business. This time we can’t make any more mistakes," Pangilinan told The STAR.

He added that MPC will effectively be dissolved with the creation of MPIC while Nenaco will continue to exist as a separate legal entity. "Any economic benefit from Nenaco however will accrue to MPIC. MPC sharereholders will swap their existing shares for new MPIC shares on a one for one basis. So Nenaco will be owned derivatively by MPIC through MPC which in turn will be owned 100 percent by MPIC," Pangilinan said.

By creating MPIC, Pangilinan explained that they are able to "quarantine" the risk of Nenaco.

The dismal performance of Nenaco over the years has tolled heavily on MPC, forcing management to come up with a way of isolating MPC from Nenaco.

Bump!

Chinese firm offers to complete Skyway



By BERNIE CAHILES–MAGKILAT

China Road and Bridge Corp. (CRBC), the leading construction company of the People’s Republic of China (PROC), has proposed to complete the skyway by constructing of Stage 2 from Bicutan to Alabang and Stage 3 from Buendia to Balintawak for a total project cost of P54 billion.


Trade and Industry Secretary Peter B. Favila said the Chinese firm has already submitted its proposal to complete the skyway to the National Economic and Development Authority for approval.

Favila said he has already talked with the Citra Group of Indonesia, the joint venture partner of the Philippine National Construction Corp. in the Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp. (CMMTC) that undertook the construction of the Stage 1 of the elevated expressway, and encouraged to talk with the Chinese.

He said the Citra Group, which is headed by the daughter of former Indonesian prime minister Suharto, has already defaulted its right to construct Stage 2. The Indonesian group, which completed the construction of Stage 1 (Buendia to Bicutan involving 14 kms.) at a cost of $ 514 million in 1998, had to option to undertake Stage until 2006.

The CMMTC had already constructed 12 advance columns in preparation for the construction of Stage 2 of the skyway.

The total P54 billion project cost for Stages 2 and 3 of the skyway was based on the latest feasibility study conducted by the Chinese.

Of the total cost, the Stage 2 from Bicutan to Alabang covering 9.9 kilometers would entail a cost of P12 billion while the Stage 3 from Buendia to Balintawak involving 13 kilometers would cost P42 billion including right of way.

The Chinese has committed to complete the Stage 2 in 15 to 18 months and Stage 2 in 25 to 30 months from the award of the contract.

The P54 billion project cost would be funded by the Chinese through concessional loans and equity portion.

The Chinese are also expected to ask for a sovereign guarantee from the Philippine government.

Favila said he has already instructed the agencies concerned to ensure that the Malaysians, which are doing the rehabilitation of the Alabang viaduct, and the future contractor for the Stage 2 of the skyway to match their engineering designs.

The viaduct 1.2 kilometer is constructed from ground up while the Stage 2 is an elevated skyway.

According to Favila, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has asked President Arroyo during the recent bilateral meeting to expedite the processes for the infrastructure projects that they are providing financing.

"He himself told the President that he would see to it the completion of all the Chinese projects," he said.

Taken From:
http://www.mb.com.ph/BSNS2007011984982.html

Sounds too good to be true, sana matuloy!

Such wonderful news. If all goes well, (which I doubt) we'll have a great SkyWay and hopefully an extensive rail and metro system. Then eventually, when that's all done, NAIA Terminal 3 will finally open! Hahahahahahahahahaha!!! Sorry, couldn't help but think of that.

Manila (22 March) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has announced the good news on the Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC)'s extension of the Metro Manila Skyway project stretching from Bicutan to Alabang in Muntinlupa City.

In her speech at the 28th national conference of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) at the Manila Hotel, the President said PNCC president Maria Theresa Defensor-Asuncion informed her of the welcome development.

"I am happy to report the news from the PNCC president today that tomorrow, the PNCC board will ratify the joint investment proposal with CITRA (Citra Metro Manila Tollway Corporation) for the continuation of the Skyway project from Stage 2," she said

The President pointed out that the completion of the Skyway extension project would offer a more convenient travel for people, facilitate the movement of goods, and further spur business and development in other areas in the Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon (CALABARZON) growth area.

The Skyway project, an overhead motorway along the South Luzon Expressway, is one of the priority projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the CALABARZON area under the President's 10-point agenda.

Earlier, Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila had given CITRA a deadline to submit a plan for the completion of the Skyway project.

Citra had already completed the first stage of the project covering the Buendia to Bicutan stretch.

Stage 2 of the Skyway project is the portion from Bicutan to Alabang which covers 9.9 kilometers, while the third stage, which will extend from Buendia to Balintawak, covers 13 kilometers. (PIA-MMIO)

----

PIA Daily News Reader
PIA Press Release
2007/03/22

^^ So wala na yung proposal from China Roads and Bridges?? oh well, whatever...

I'd like to hear more before I start jumping up and down for joy. But I really hope it pushes through. And soon.

^^ So wala na yung proposal from China Roads and Bridges?? oh well, whatever...

ayaw pumayag ng CITRA..

Finally! But, how will the skyway connect to Alabang? Will it even touch the viaduct?

Oh, and the T-3 exit isn't done yet. They're taking their time constructing that one.

I have mixed feelings about the skyway now. I used to be very excited about this project, but now not so much. On one hand, Metro Manila really does need the skyway, especially phase III. There is a need to connect SLEX with NLEX and also provide an alternative route for north and south folks to get across town without getting stuck in C5 or EDSA. However, I have a hard time thinking about how phase III will cut through Manila and break neighborhoods and communities.

^Hopefully this will push through. Tagal na nito sobra. High School pa lang ata ako eh ginagawa pa lang ito eh. Anyway, I'm also wondering kung paano nila gagawin yung Phase III nito.

^ Yeah, how will they get through all the right-of-way issues, hmmmm.

I was also curious about that before. If you would look on MM maps, the skyway would pass through densely populated areas of Manila, Quezon City and Caloocan. The funny thing also is that when you extend NLEX down to Manila, it would surely hit Malacanan Palace.

I'm glad though, that the government did not drop the III phase of the skyway. I already heard about the II phase a year before but until now it is still on hold. Perhaps they are still waiting for the Alabang viaduct to be finished? (But, that would be a very stupid guess). Or perhaps, Citra has no funds yet?

^I believe CITRA has funds now. They have resumed construction on the tollroads in Jakarta.

those unfinised columns down SLEX from bicutan (i think) to alabang would be phase 2, right? are those columns still safe to use? i mean, it's been there ever since ramos was still president. btw, how much is skyway toll now?

^ P100? :dunno:

^^ P85 po

^ Ah yes, now I remember, isang taon na rin kasi akong hindi nakakapunta ng Maynila :D

wow, 85? malaki pala ang itinaas since i left. 55 lang ata nung umalis ako eh.

^ I think bumaba nga eh. There was a time na 75 lang siya, then biglang naging 100 then ngayon eh 85 na :D

grabe naman kung 100. well, i guess i'd pay that price na din for covenience kesa naman 4 na oras kang stuck in traffic sa SLEX.

Tokyo approves P172-m fund for Skyway ramp
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=police1_april27_2007

THE Japanese government has approved P172 million in Official Development Assistance for the construction of northbound Skyway ramp near the Bicutan toll plaza.

In a statement, the Japanese Embassy yesterday said the project would ease vehicular flow by up to 50 percent and reduce losses by about P1.15 billion due to stalled traffic.

“This traffic mitigation project will directly benefit thousands of motorists, considering the daily average of 27,500 vehicles traveling along the main carriageway of the Bicutan northbound section of SLEX [South Luzon Expressway].”

The statement noted that also among the beneficiaries included existing investors, a positive move to encourage more locators in Laguna, Batangas, and other southern Luzon provinces.

The embassy said the National Development Co. would build a new ramp with a two-lane carriageway about 240 meters long near the Bicutan toll plaza entry.

“This project will provide for [the] smooth flow of traffic along the at-grade section of the SLEX from Alabang to Magallanes.”

The Skyway improvement is among the priorities under the government’s Medium-Term Philippine Development Policy underscored in the State-of-the-Nation Address last year of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as the key in spawning so-called super regions.

“The government of Japan finds the [Skyway] project consistent with the Philippine government’s development policy,” the embassy said, adding that “infrastructure is essential for creating new economic opportunities for the country, as the establishment of a smooth transportation network will eventually facilitate the efficient flow and delivery of goods and services, as well as encourage more investors.” Michael Caber

Tokyo approves P172-m fund for Skyway ramp
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=police1_april27_2007
The embassy said the National Development Co. would build a new ramp with a two-lane carriageway about 240 meters long near the Bicutan toll plaza entry.

This means one thing though... the continuation from Bicutan to Alabang of the skyway will definitely be delayed quite a bit (more than a couple of years) since they have already considered putting a "more permanent" northbound access/entry ramp. The existing "temporary" metal ramp, which is only 1 lane wide also obstructs a significant portion of the northbound at-grade section of the SLEX.

But its good they have a plan to ease the "artificial" traffic clog that set of ramps makes in the area.

http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/3638/1875204xe3.jpg
Photo by hydroliak

http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/572/1518068el9.jpg
Photo by Don Rae Avendano

http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/7088/1160588mw0.jpg
Photo by combathero

^^wow! parang di kuha sa pinas ung 2nd photo! superb ang skyway parang sa frisco!

Yung eyesore na homes along the riles, pwede pang maglagay ng high speed trains papuntang provinces nyan. Tsk, noypi nga naman, kinukuha lahat ng spaces.

Yung eyesore na homes along the riles, pwede pang maglagay ng high speed trains papuntang provinces nyan. Tsk, noypi nga naman, kinukuha lahat ng spaces.

tinanggal na yung ibang parts na yan, from edsa to nichols ata. Hope they relocate all of them. Napost ko na yun date sa Slex thread

kundi ako nagakakamali, wala na yang mga squatters jan? can anyone confirm?

kundi ako nagakakamali, wala na yang mga squatters jan? can anyone confirm?

where? from nichols mismo going to c5?

^Meron pa rin... Few meters after Magallanes marami pa ring squatters doon hanngang Bicutan na iyon.

That rail should be used. :D It's position is kewl.

^Meron pa rin... Few meters after Magallanes marami pa ring squatters doon hanngang Bicutan na iyon.

Yup, meron pa rin. Sa bandang Makati na, tinatakpan sila ng mga makukulay na concrete walls, sana baklasin na sila all together! :ohno:

The Skyway is back on Track!

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=police2_july21_2007

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo launched yesterday the 6.9-km. Stage 2 of the South Metro Manila Skway project from Bicutan to Alabang in Muntinlupa City that would further cut travel time between the National Capital Region and sections of Southern Luzon upon its completion in 2009.

i hope they start the one that would finally connect SLEX to NLEX., i think that's stage three.,

^^ Stage three would have to cut through the Motel Row along Old Sta Mesa Road... leading to Araneta Ave.

GMA launches stage 2 of South Skyway
Manila Standard
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=police2_july21_2007

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo launched yesterday the 6.9-km. Stage 2 of the South Metro Manila Skway project from Bicutan to Alabang in Muntinlupa City that would further cut travel time between the National Capital Region and sections of Southern Luzon upon its completion in 2009.

Mrs. Arroyo pushed the button signaling the start of the P8.1-billion project at the end of the elevated Skyway in Bicutan with the installation on top of a column of the patented Indonesian technology “sosrabahu,” a hydraulic frictionless rotating device that enables the construction of elevated roadways without any major disruption of the traffic flow on the ground.

Among those present were former President Fidel Ramos, Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Trade Secretary Peter Favila, and Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp. chief executive Henro Santoso.

Santoso briefed the President and showed an audiovisual presentation of Stage 2 of the project, a six-lane elevated stretch from Bicutan that winds up at Bunye Road in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

Aside from facilitating access to the highly urbanized areas of Sucat and Alabang, Skyway Stage 2 would also increase road capacity, hasten the movement of goods and boost business and economic development in the Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon growth area.

Stage 2 is the continuation of the 9.3-km elevated stretch from Buendia in Makati City to Bicutan, Taguig City that was completed in 1999.

The 16.3-km South Metro Manila Skyway project from Buendia to Alabang started in 1995 following an agreement between the Toll Regulatory Board, Philippine National Construction Corp. and CMMTC.

Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp. was mandated to design, fund and implement the project, with the PNCC taking care of operation and maintenance.

The overhead motorway on the South Luzon Expressway is a priority project of the Department of Public Works and Highways under Mrs. Arroyo’s 10-point agenda.

The 13-km. third stage will extend from Buendia to Balintawak, Quezon City, connecting to the North Luzon Expressway.

finally only a decade delayed

madugo ang third stage., daming masasagasaan. ang mahal ng right of way., :)

Kelan naman kaya tayo magkakaroon ng autobahn paikot ng Luzon tapos connected sa Visayas at Mindanao through grand cable-stayed bridges or suspension bridges :D

^^ Stage three would have to cut through the Motel Row along Old Sta Mesa Road... leading to Araneta Ave.

All the way to Sgt. Rivera, Bonifacio Ave then NLEX entrance? Elevated rin ba ang plans? Maganda kung from Buendia to Balintawak elevated highway na para mas makakasave sa right of way, at least mga poste lang ang ipapatayo at makakaabala :D

sa may Marcelo ba ito?

http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/7088/1160588mw0.jpg

No , its not . It is actually in Pasong Tamo area between Magallanes and Nichols where rows of industrial warehouses stands as seen in the photo above .

All the way to Sgt. Rivera, Bonifacio Ave then NLEX entrance? Elevated rin ba ang plans? Maganda kung from Buendia to Balintawak elevated highway na para mas makakasave sa right of way, at least mga poste lang ang ipapatayo at makakaabala :D

^^ Or sa mga makikipot na area, para makatipid sa gastos/right of way, kahit double decker skyway gawin nila. Middle section going north, top section going South para ma-enjoy yung skyline :colgate:

^^ Or sa mga makikipot na area, para makatipid sa gastos/right of way, kahit double decker skyway gawin nila. Middle section going north, top section going South para ma-enjoy yung skyline :colgate:

i think someone posted renderings of Skyway's stage 3 a long time ago, and from what I still remember its indeed a double decker skyway. hehe sana nga ganun ang gawin nila :)

^^ Nagpost ako ng renderings nun dati, yung double decker part sa Araneta and A.Bonifacio avenues. Di ko alam kung saan ko in-upload at di ko na maalala kung saan ko nakuha. :D

what's the time table like for stage3?

^^ If they could finished it by 2010 up to Balintawak....hmmm WOW!!! SEAMLESS ang biyahe from Baguio to Bicol......:banana:

so you think they will inagurate the stage 3 soon? like this year or next year? the government seems to be vague on stage 3. even the official skyway website does not mention it (altho i think i shouldnt be surprised..)

so you think they will inagurate the stage 3 soon? like this year or next year? the government seems to be vague on stage 3. even the official skyway website does not mention it (altho i think i shouldnt be surprised..)

^^ Oo nga noh...hmmm...parang ang tagal!! Whats the use of extending it to alabang if they cant find a way to interconnect it first to NLEX...

Well.. The Chinese have already engaged in the agreement that would realize this...hmmm..... ano kaya? Patience to wait na lang muna tayo ha.....:nuts:

Question lang.. Yung ginagawa dun sa alabang overpass.. kasama rin ba yun sa Skyway Project? Pansin ko lang kasi binabawasan nila ng 1-2 lanes dun sa southbound lane ng overpass tsaka inaayos nila yung sa me Festival exit. Meron din parang road dun sa me festival exit that I assume will be exit point ng Skyway(Correct me if I'm wrong?).. :)

Question lang.. Yung ginagawa dun sa alabang overpass.. kasama rin ba yun sa Skyway Project?

Wow! nice question... Baka may kinalaman ang Alabang Viaduct sa extension ng Skyway since gagawin nilang interchange ang area na e2..Definitely d2 rin magteterminate ang Skyway....Maybe they are already preparing the alignment of these structures.....

^as far as I know, Dun talaga sa alabang magteterminate ang skyway.. Di ko lang sure ngayon kung me kinalaman yung ginagawa ngayon sa overpass tsaka dun sa me festival exit sa Skyway project..

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/4681/3709045rk6.jpg
Photo by dubaimetro (http://www.panoramio.com/user/741487)

wow, thanks for that. Its almost complete:okay:

holy baka! nice shot dxpsycho! :D

wow, thanks for that. Its almost complete:okay:

Nope...not even close. It leads to nowhere right now and some of the pillars are not even completed yet.

Question lang.. Yung ginagawa dun sa alabang overpass.. kasama rin ba yun sa Skyway Project?

Nope. That is for the Alabang Viaduct Retrofit works that is waaaaaaaaay overdue.

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/4681/3709045rk6.jpg
Photo by dubaimetro (http://www.panoramio.com/user/741487)

If you pan the image towards the left, arnolds is right that the off-ramp section still has a long way to go...

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/3290/d1000050ur4.jpg

http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/9484/d1000051uv4.jpg

http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/7579/d1000052gm0.jpg

Sana matapos na to para ma-lessen pa ang traffic...nice project...we need more of this!

^^ It's nice....just like those viaducts in Japan...

I hope that in the next 15-20 years, the government musn't stop funding for infrastructures like expressways, railways, airports and bridges not only in Metro Manila but for provinces also with a potential to become Ecozones. Just like what Malaysia did for the last 30 years since early 80's.:)

^^ The Airport Expressway will provide an easy access from Roxas Blvd. to Alabang and further down South and Vice Versa.. I think by December this will be completed...Thanks for the implementors...

Skyway project all set (http://philstar.com/index.php?Business&p=49&type=2&sec=27&aid=2007081451)
By Ma. Elisa P. Osorio
Wednesday, August 15, 2007

The long delayed continuation of the second phase of the skyway project connecting Bicutan to Alabang is all set as all domestic procedures have finally been completed.

In a chance interview, Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Peter B. Favila said “all domestic procedures are okay.”

The Indonesian firm Citra Metro Manila Tollway Corp. finished the Buendia to Bicutan stretch of the skyway project several years back. The stage two has been delayed because of the relatively slow traffic volume of the existing phase coupled with financial troubles of CITRA’s parent company in Indonesia following the collapse of the Suharto government.

In March, President Arroyo said the Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC) ratified the joint investment proposal with CITRA for phase 2 of the skyway project.

A month later, Favila announced CITRA has 30 days upon the issuance of the notice to start stage two of the Skyway project or else the contract will be forfeited. Nearly four months after the statement, CITRA has yet to start the 9.9-kilometer toll road.

A Chinese firm has volunteered to continue stage two and stage three of the road project but CITRA invoked its original contract perfected during the administration of former President Fidel V. Ramos. The contract gives CITRA the option to finish the entire road project.

Favila said the government had no choice but to honor the contract but gave CITRA a deadline to proceed with the project. “They really have to work on it,” Favila stressed.

On March 21, Mrs. Arroyo said PNCC would proceed with the extension of the Metro Manila Skyway project stretching from Bicutan to Alabang in Muntinlupa City.

The president pointed out that the completion of the Skyway extension project would offer a more convenient travel for people, facilitate the movement of goods, and further spur business and development in other areas in the Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon (CALABARZON) growth area.

The Skyway project, an overhead motorway along the South Luzon Expressway, is one of the priority projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the CALABARZON area under the President’s 10-point agenda.

P8-B Gil Puyat Ave.-NLEX Skyway project (http://www.mb.com.ph/BSNS20070815100340.html)

Chinese firm opts to build Stage 3

By BERNIE CAHILES–MAGKILAT

China Road and Bridge Corp. (CRBC) has opted out from Stage 2 project (Bicutan to Alabang) of the Skyway with the Citra Metro Manila Tollway Corporation (CMMTC), the joint venture between the Citra Group and the Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC), finally exercising its option to undertake the R8-billion elevated expressway (Stage 3).

The Chinese group is interested in undertaking the Stage 3, which will continue from the existing Skyway in Buendia to connect to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) cutting through Manila.

Trade and Industry Secretary Peter B. Favila told reporters that CMMTC is going to start construction this quarter or 30 days from the issuance of the Notice to Proceed by the Tollways Regulatory Board (TRB).

Stage 2 is a 6.88-kilometer tollroad from Bicutan to Alabang. It is a continuation of the Stage 1, a 9.3 kilometer skyway, which starts from Magallanes to Bicutan.

It could be recalled that in April this year, the Indonesian-owned Citra has invoked that it has the Supplemental Toll Operations Agreement (STOA) as well as the funds to pursue the project.

The China Road and Bridge Corp. had expressed interest to undertake the long-delayed completion of the Skyway project and its extension and linkup with the North Luzon Expressway for an estimated P54 billion.

But the Indonesians hold the STOA, which empowers them to build and operate the Skyway. CITRA already has completed the first stage of the project covering the Buendia to Bicutan stretch.

Citra has committed to complete the project by 2010 although instead of the original 1999 completion schedule.

Should Citra failed to comply with the 30-day period by which to commence construction, the Indonesians are going to lose the contract to other proponent.

The Citra Group, which is headed by the daughter of former Indonesian Prime Minister Suharto, was supposed to have defaulted its right to construct Stage 2.

The Indonesian group, which completed the construction of Stage 1 (Buendia to Bicutan involving 14 kms.) at a cost of 4 million in 1998, was given up to 2006 to exercise its option to undertake Stage 2.

Its joint venture firm, CMMTC, had already constructed 12 advance columns in preparation for the construction of Stage 2 of the skyway.

The Chinese, on the other hand, had proposed to complete the Skyway by constructing of Stage 2 from Bicutan to Alabang and Stage 3 from Buendia to Balintawak for a total project cost of P54 billion.

In fact, it has submitted a proposal to complete the skyway to the National Economic and Development Authority for approval.

The P54 billion-project cost would be funded by the Chinese through concessional loans and equity portion.

Meantime, Stage 3 of the Skyway project proposes to extend the Skyway from Buendia following the old South Super Highway to Quirino Ave. and crossing through Araneta up to the Nagtahan Bridge to connect to C-3 out of Bonifacio going to Balintawak.

But Favila that construction of Stage 3 is met with a huge right of way problem as it has to go through the busy districts in Manila. Already, the local government of Manila has expressed reservations over the planned construction of the Skyway.

The government has yet to decide on what agency would be the implementing arm for the Stage 3 project.

The Skyway will then be connected to the Alabang viaduct, which is being rehabilitated by MTD Capital Bhd. of Malaysia. MTD is also undertaking the project in joint venture with PNCC.

The Skyway project, an overhead motorway along the South Luzon Expressway, is one of the priority projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the CALABARZON area under the President’s 10-point agenda.

The completion of the extension project is seen to further spur movement of goods and services within the Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon growth area.

for me....i don't think we still need phase 3 of the project....phase 2 is really necessary....but phase 3 with the completion of the railway between the north and the south....parang nabawasan ang need for phase 3....i would rather that government...spend the money on railways...and subways...that is the way of the future.....

for me....i don't think we still need phase 3 of the project....phase 2 is really necessary....but phase 3 with the completion of the railway between the north and the south....parang nabawasan ang need for phase 3....i would rather that government...spend the money on railways...and subways...that is the way of the future.....

Mmmm... I like the idea.... more please!

Actually it's very important to link these two up, the long term traffic patterns of the the metropolis will be very much improved by taking north-south traffic from EDSA to this route. While Manila LGU may voice it's opinion this is a National project that affects millions outside of it's constituents narrow purview. I'm glad Stage 2 will be started soon, I hope stage 3 will be also be started. These are all BOT projects anyway.

that all sounds so good.. hopefully there wont be any snags or delays or inquiries by the senate and the like..

If you pan the image towards the left, arnolds is right that the off-ramp section still has a long way to go...

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/3290/d1000050ur4.jpg

http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/9484/d1000051uv4.jpg

http://img459.imageshack.us/img459/7579/d1000052gm0.jpg

kelan daw ang tapos nito, projected date?

Mmmm... I like the idea.... more please!

thanks...i thinks its about time that subways...be built....it was earlier envisioned for the makati hopefully for bgc...too...if we want to join the first world...these are must haves....thailand is already constructing their subway and so is malaysia....papaiwan ba tau?...pinoy pa....

Actually it's very important to link these two up, the long term traffic patterns of the the metropolis will be very much improved by taking north-south traffic from EDSA to this route. While Manila LGU may voice it's opinion this is a National project that affects millions outside of it's constituents narrow purview. I'm glad Stage 2 will be started soon, I hope stage 3 will be also be started. These are all BOT projects anyway.


its BOT but the government...still will pay for it...they should not....spend on stage 3....i suggest that they pour their money into mass transport like rails....bullet trains.... maglev...btw...experimental cars are now being developed by israel and the u.s....it will make the roads obsolete....in the not too distant future...but mass transit...will remain...popular with the car less people...

for me....i don't think we still need phase 3 of the project....phase 2 is really necessary....but phase 3 with the completion of the railway between the north and the south....parang nabawasan ang need for phase 3....i would rather that government...spend the money on railways...and subways...that is the way of the future.....

I believe we still need phase 3. There are a lot of people who'd rather go drive their cars than use public transportation. :)

thanks...i thinks its about time that subways...be built....it was earlier envisioned for the makati hopefully for bgc...too...if we want to join the first world...these are must haves....thailand is already constructing their subway and so is malaysia....papaiwan ba tau?...pinoy pa....

Naiwan na nga po tayo e. Malayo na narating nila. In terms of infrastructure, think we are 20 years behind Thailand tapos 30 years behind Malaysia. :ohno:

Sana i-grab na natin yung opportunity na gawin yung stage 3 ng mga Chinese. Funding lang naman ang problema satin. Andyan na nga, papalampasin pa ba natin?

Hopefully pag magawa yung Skyway 3, buhayin nila yung planned Pasig Expressway along Pasig River (i think) para may North-South and East-West elevated highway na tayo sa MM.

China firm eyes Skyway
By Elaine Ruzul S. Ramos
Manila Standard
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=business1_aug15_2007

China Road and Bridge Corp. of China has now shifted its sights on constructing the third phase of the Metro Manila Skyway Project, which will extend the elevated toll road from Magallanes in Pasay City to Balintawak, Quezon City.

Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila told reporters in a chance interview that China Road had dropped its bid to build Stage 2 of the project after the original proponent, Indonesia’s Citra Metro Manila Tollway Corp., finally decided to start work on it after years of delay.

Citra plans to start work on the second phase, covering 6.88 kilometers of elevated toll road, within the quarter. The project was inaugurated last month.

“The TRB [Toll Regulatory Board] has given the condition that Citra would have to undertake the project within 30 days after the issuance of the notice to proceed,” added Favila.

Favila earlier warned the Indonesian company that Manila would entertain interested groups to pursue the project. Citra, however, invoked its supplemental toll operations agreement, which granted it the right to develop and operate the proposed tollway.

Citra, under the original schedule, was to complete the Stage 2 of the Skyway project as early as 1999. It has only completed Stage 1.

Favila said the Chinese company was now looking at pursuing Stage 3, which will link up with North Luzon Expressway, for an estimated P54 billion.

He said the third stage would likely take more time due to a host of problems, including possible right-of-way concerns as the proposed elevated toll road would cut through Manila.

The Chinese company plans to build the Skyway extension project along the course of the South Superhighway up to Nagtahan Bridge. It will cut through Sta. Mesa and through Araneta Avenue, or Circumferential Road 3, and stretch to Bonifacio Avenue before ending in Balintawak.

Favila said the lead agency implementing the project was also a concern. He said former Economic Planning secretary Romulo Neri, who was also director general of the National Economic and Development Authority, had preferred another agency to implement Stage 3.

State-owned Philippine National Construction Corp., which represents government’s stake in Stages 1 and 2 of the Skyway project, apparently can no longer implement the third stage.

“National Development Co. must submit a resolution to be the implementing agency for Stage 3. There has to be representation from government for the project to push through,” added Favila.

The Skyway project, an overhead motorway along the South Luzon Expressway, is one of the priority projects of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

^^ The Phase III is so important. That's the best solution to directly by pass Metro Manila. It is the shortest path the motorist can afford plus providing an unobstructed view of Manila. C6 will be finished beyond 2010 and C5 probably 2010... Phase III will only take 3 years the most to be completed...

^^ Parang MRT 3 ang Skyway pag hindi natapos ang phase III. Mabibitin, sa halip na 100%, bka 30% lang ang maging pakinabang nito to sa mga motorists....

^^ Kitang kita sa Google Earth parang Spaghetti and mga Highways especially sa Thailand, Indonesia at Malaysia...and even Vietnam. Sana naman wag nang pagisipan ang pagextend ng Phase III at sa halip ay gawin na...

Buti nagkaroon kulay ung riles natin..Thanks to proponents natin...

thanks...i thinks its about time that subways...be built....it was earlier envisioned for the makati hopefully for bgc...too...if we want to join the first world...these are must haves....thailand is already constructing their subway and so is malaysia....papaiwan ba tau?...pinoy pa....

its BOT but the government...still will pay for it...they should not....spend on stage 3....i suggest that they pour their money into mass transport like rails....bullet trains.... maglev...btw...experimental cars are now being developed by israel and the u.s....it will make the roads obsolete....in the not too distant future...but mass transit...will remain...popular with the car less people...

I don't know the terms of the Skyway BOT but to my knowledge as opposed to the LRT there is no GOP guarantee on returns (similar to mrt3 and line 7 a future problem in the making if it goes through with the guarantee). We already spend most of the transport budget on mass rail right 4 lines as per sona (north, south, 6 and mrt/lrt connection). None of those are BOT. The skyway BOT to my knowledge is instantaneously cash positive because of the existing revenue from SLEX. If there will be no return guarantees by the GOP then the government will not pay for it, it will pay for it by itself. At this point the actual feasibility of stage 3 and the whole skyway system is enhanced if it is complete.

Oh my, skyway is useless on rainy days... na-stranded ako sa itaas for more than an hour. :cry:

buti di ka tumalon..:lol:

^^ahaha... muntik na. :jk: naglakad na lang ako pababa sa Bicutan habang umuulan. Asar talaga. :cry:

galing ba ng manila? oh diba, nakalibre ka pa ng toll fee..:lol:

^^OT na to pero anyway.

nope, galing ayala. grabe itong ulan na ito. hindi talaga gumagalaw yung mga sasakyan sa SLEX at Skyway. Kung hindi pa ako naglakad baka 2 hours pa ako dun.

^^ useless because its not finished... at ang kapal maningil ng toll fee wala namang pakinabang....

Naiwan na nga po tayo e. Malayo na narating nila. In terms of infrastructure, think we are 20 years behind Thailand tapos 30 years behind Malaysia. :ohno:

Sana i-grab na natin yung opportunity na gawin yung stage 3 ng mga Chinese. Funding lang naman ang problema satin. Andyan na nga, papalampasin pa ba natin?

Hopefully pag magawa yung Skyway 3, buhayin nila yung planned Pasig Expressway along Pasig River (i think) para may North-South and East-West elevated highway na tayo sa MM.

tapos in 5 years time, magiging 30 years behind Thailand and 50 years behind Malaysia. Oh well, most Filipinos don't realize that coz theyre socially introvert.

^^grabe naman yun.. :lol: sobrang bagal. Sana lang hindi matuloy yang sinasabi mo ano?

Oh my, skyway is useless on rainy days... na-stranded ako sa itaas for more than an hour. :cry:

this is true...sobra traffic yesterday sa skyway!

^^hellway ata siya hindi skyway.. oops corny

They need to build more toll booths... Sobrang traffic kasi konti lang mga toll booth. Minsan may kasama pa yung toll operator at nakikipag kwentuhan. One time, I was wondering why the lane im using was so slow moving compared to the other toll lanes. When I got to the toll booth, I saw the toll girl flirting with a guy inside the booth. Grabe, I was so pissed, no wonder ang bagal magbigay ng change...

Oh my, skyway is useless on rainy days... na-stranded ako sa itaas for more than an hour. :cry:

The reason why skyway's patronizer experienced heavy traffic during rainy season is because both ends are dipped in to swamp just like Quezon bridge in Quiapo.

these are good reasons why the gov't should not continue with stage3...the way to go is rail lines....subways....

^^ If the motorists can use the rails and subways to traverse MM from NLEX to SLEX or vice versa, then we can drop the stage 3 of skyway, now, could they?

^^ Meron naman ng U/C na North Rial at South Rail. Para sa commuting public at cargo yung rail line na yan.

Kaso hindi naman lahat gusto sumakay ng train. Kaya nga nag flop ang PNR dahil masmabilis ang Pantranco byaheng norte.

Hindi rin kaya mag tayo ng subway ang gov't dahil mahal. Mukang 100 years pa naman ito bago mababawi kapag BOT ang subway. example na dyan MRT. kelangan pa ng subsidies.

Masmabilis parin ang byahe kapag na kompleto ang Skyway 3. Masbibilis ang North-South car travel na hindi nararamdaman ang MM traffic.

Kung matayo ang Skyway 3 at operational na ang North-South Rail, at least may pagpipilian ang mga tao para sa masmabilis na byahe.

^^ Yun na nga, hindi naman pwedeng dumaan sa riles ang mga kotse, bakit pa kailangang sabihin wag na lang gawin yung stage 3 (traversing MM) at maggawa na lang ng riles?!?!

Mas maganda if there's skyway stage 3 plus the PNR modern railway mas makikita ang modernity at progress.

There is a saying, "Do not put all your eggs in one basket." There won't be any alternative if one system malfunctioned. The rest would be severely paralyzed.