Skyway SLEX

San Miguel is set to invest PHP168bn ($3.74bn) for the construction of modern toll roads and highways in the Philippines.

The company is partnering with South Luzon Tollways (SLTC) and investing PHP13.1bn ($291.99m) to build the four-lane, 58km Southern Luzon Expressway-Toll Road 4 (SLEX-TR4).

The construction is set to extend the highway to Lucena in Quezon from Santo Tomas in Batangas.

San Miguel president and COO Ramon Ang said: "We look at infrastructure as an opportunity to participate in the growth of our country. Quality infrastructure will change and impact lives."

"We look at infrastructure as an opportunity to participate in the growth of our country."

"The tollway will help encourage new investments across these regions. Land values will appreciate; new businesses will emerge. Because of the new roads, progress will be brought to the towns and barangays."

The proposed toll road, which will have four lanes, guard rails, median barriers, toll plazas and CCTV cameras, is slated for completion by 2019.

According to San Miguel, the initial section from Santo Tomas to Macban is planned for completion by mid-2017.

The company also operates the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), the elevated Skyway system and the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) tollway.

In addition, San Miguel also plans PHP26.5bn ($590.72m) Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 project through Citra Central Expressway, PHP24bn ($535.04m) TPLEX through Philippine Infrastructure Development and PHP15.5bn ($345.49m) Ninoy Aquino International Airport expressway project through Vertex Tollways Development.

Image: The four-lane, 58km Southern Luzon Expressway-Toll Road 4. Photo: courtesy of Manilaspirit via Wikipedia.