A major Metro Manila infrastructure plan that will interconnect the South and North Luzon Expressway (Slex and Nlex) as well as the three international airport terminals, has been given a go-signal by Malacañang.
“This project which totals 112 kilometer, for a total cost of P75 to P80 billion, will hopefully decongest Metro Manila. It should be implemented by 2015,” said Sen. Franklin Drilon to reporters after conducting a review of the 2012 budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
It was during the review that the project was relayed by Secretary Rogelio Singson.
“The President has approved what we refer to us the ‘Metro Manila skyway network.’ And we are talking of three skyway network. First, is the North Luzon-South Luzon connector. This is a project proposed by Metro Pacific (Tollways Development Corp.) or the Nlex group. The second is the project that startsfrom Slex going to through San Juan and ending up in Quezon City Araneta Avenue all the way to Balintawak. This is a project proposed by a San Miguel group,” Singson said. The latter being referred to was that of San Miguel-CTRA group as main proponents.
“The third which is the NAIA Expressway II which connects south super highway in Nicoles and connects to Terminal 1, 2 and 3 and all the way to the Pagcor Entertainment City. So now you have three-legged national NCR skyway network that will connect major destination. Hopefully, this will really improve or decongest our major thoroughfares like Edsa, Taft Avenue, Buendia Avenue,” he explained.
“The target given to us by the President is end of 2015. We are confident that segments of this skyway network will be operational by 2015. We are looking at how we can see to it if not all of the road network will be finished at least by mid 2016. The whole thing will be completed,” Singson said.
The first project projected to cost P24.51 billion will involve the construction of a 13.4-kilometer elevated expressway to link Slex and Nlex passing through Metro Manila “utilizing the existing  Philippine National Railway alignment as its route, including four interchanges.”
The other proposal from Citra Metro Tollways, called Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3, costing P25.40 billion, involves the construction of a 14.20-kilometer, six-lane elevated expressway which will connect the existing skyway at Buendia through median islands of Osmeña Highway and President Quirino traversing the Nagtahan Link road, N. Domingo. G. Araneta Ave., Sgt. Rivera down to A. Bonifacio before Edsa.
The third leg, called the NAIA Expressway Project, Phase II, costing P15.52 billion ($361 million), is a 7.15-kilometer, four-lane elevated expressway, including ramps at Sales St. going to Andrews Avenue, Domestic Road and MIA Road ending at the Pagcor Entertainment City at Macapagal Boulevard in the Manila Bay reclaimed area.
Under the proposal which will be undertaken under public-private partnership (PPP) set-up, Singson said “the private sector will finance, design, construct, operate and maintain” the project, while the government will finance road right-of-way acquisitions.
Also yesterday, Singson told the Senate finance committee chaired by Sen. Franklin Drilon that 26 percent of P165.6 billion of the  department’s 2013 budget has been appropriated for Mindanao infrastructure projects which was hard-hit by series of typhoons last year.
Likewise, Singson claimed of “tremendous” improvement in the utilization of their funds, posting a 94 percent completion of their 2,358 projects for this year as of July 15.
Drilon admitted to reporters that while the DPWH may have good projections for its infrastructure projects for Mindanao next year, he admitted that it will be difficult for the Aquino government to meet the target if there will be no peace agreement, particularly in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao areas.