Metro Manila Skyway

[renell]

Originally Posted by GreyX

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.

[Solblanc]

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.

[federal]

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.

[renell]

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.

[renell]

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


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.

[absent-minded]

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

[ryanr]

Originally Posted by absent-minded

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.

[renell]

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.

[absent-minded]

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

[mysaong03]

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.

[renell]

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.

[ryanr]

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

[federal]

Originally Posted by renell

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


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.... awww

[ryanr]

Here it is:








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.

[ryanr]

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."

[federal]

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

[renell]

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

[ryanr]

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

[federal]

---->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

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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.

[renell]

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.