Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar announced on Friday that the main trunk line of Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 from Buendia, Makati City up to North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) in Balintawak, Quezon City is now open, cutting travel time between the two points to 20 minutes.
(SIMEON CELI/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)
"With the opening of Skyway Stage 3 bypassing the congested Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA), travel time from Buendia to Balintawak is cut from two hours to just 15 to 20 minutes,” Villar said.
“We have waited long for this project and I am pleased to personally experience that we are now reaping the benefits of using the fastest alternative route between NLEX and South Luzon Expressway,” Villar added.
President Duterte led the inauguration of the 17.93-kilometer elevated expressway last Thursday.
It was also attended by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Department of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, Senator Bong Go, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, Department of Transportation Secretary Art Tugade, BCDA President Vince Dizon, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, DBM Secretary Wendel Avisado, MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia, and MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos Jr.
The project would have been far in the future if not for the commitment of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) men and women and the dedication of the project concessionaire San Miguel Corporation led by its president and chief executive officer, Ramon Ang, and its civil works contractor.
After incurring long delays, DPWH under the leadership of Villar accelerated the Skyway’s infrastructure right-of-way (RROW) acquisition by forming a road right-of-way task force that resulted to delivery of site possession and increased overall civil works accomplishment.