Metro Pacific Tollways South Management Corporation (MPT South) intends to turn the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) into a ‘green highway’.
The tollway operator is currently piloting the greening initiative in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Sustainable Interventions for Biodiversity, Oceans and Landscapes (SIBOL).
MPT South and USAID SIBOL, a natural resources management and biodiversity conservation project, are collaborating on a biodiversity program for CALAX.
CALAX is a 45-kilometer high-speed road network connecting the two provinces of Cavite and Laguna, targeting to serve around 45,000 motorists upon its completion.
“We are grateful to USAID SIBOL for allowing us to tap into their pool of knowledge as we turn CALAX into a green highway,” said MPT South President and General Manager, Roberto V. Bontia.
The agreement with MPT South is in line with USAID SIBOL’s goal of improving biodiversity conservation by working towards voluntary industry standards and replicating the rewilding model in similar projects.
“Protecting the environment, natural resources, and ensuring their capacities to sustain life for generations to come should be a collective effort,” according to USAID SIBOL Chief of Party Dr. Ernesto Guiang.
“Environmental issues such as climate change and habitat loss affect businesses, livelihoods, communities, and ordinary people. That is why we are grateful for this partnership with MPTC,” he added.
The project can set a standard for future infrastructure development in the country, says Christopher C. Lizo, MPTC Chief Finance Officer and Senior Executive Sponsor for Sustainability.
Ultimately, MPT South plans to showcase parent firm Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC)’s role in decarbonizing the transport sector by converting its expressways to more sustainable highways.
Starting with CALAX, they are integrating the expressway with resource-saving and emission-reduction technologies.
Toll plazas of operational sections of CALAX are equipped with solar panels. They also installed LED fixtures on roadway lighting for better energy efficiency.
MPT South’s headquarters – MPT South HUB in Imus, Cavite is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)- registered building with a certification goal of LEED Gold.
LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world.
Aside from CALAX, MPTC also holds concession rights for Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX), North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), the Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), the NLEX Connector Road, and the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) in Cebu.
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The article was originally published in Manila Bulletin and written by Emmie V. Abadilla.
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