The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is committed to build the  P25.24-billion Cavite Tagaytay Batangas Expressway (CTBEX) which Metro Pacific Tollways (MPT) South proposed under the government's Build Better More Program.

The CTBEX project will definitely "push through", DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan told reporters.

"I don't think there will be conflict in alignment with the Cavite Batangas Expressway (CBEX) proposed by San Miguel Holdings Inc.," he added.

"The two projects will push through, but we will have to iron out some pending issues so that both (CTBEX and CBEX) can start," according to Bonoan. "Let's see how we can interconnect the two, plus the alignment."

The DPWH granted original proponent status to Metro Pacific Tollway Corp. (MPTC), parent firm of MPT South, for the construction of the CTBEX in 2018.

CTBEX is a 50.43 kilometer expressway  connecting Cavite and Batangas, with a spur road to Tagaytay City.

It will ultimately terminate in Nasugbu,  Batangas while another spur road will lead to Tuy, Batangas.

CTBEX is expected to decongest  23,000 vehicles daily from  nearby thoroughfares, starting with the Silang East Interchange of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX), which is now open to the motoring public.

The alignment will traverse the towns of Silang, Amadeo, Mendez, Alfonso and Tagaytay in Cavite and Nasugbu in Batangas.

To date, CTBEX's  original proponent, the MPTC Group, has  invested $3.06 billion in road projects nationwide.

It has a total of 240.6 kilometers of existing expressways plus 43.1kilometers more under construction.

MPTC operates the 105-kilometer North Luzon Expressway,  the 94-km Subic Clark-Tarlac Expressway and the  14-km Manila-Cavite Expressway, as well as the 8.5-km Cebu-Cordova Link expressway in Cebu.

MPTC is also building the 45 kms Cavite Laguna Expressway Project to be completed in 2024.

At present, its operational segments stretched from Mamplasan in Binan, with interchanges at Laguna Technopark, Laguna Boulevard, Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road, up to Silang East Interchange.

The C5 Link,  a 7.7-kilometer, 2x3 lane expressway that will connect CAVITEX R1 to C5 Road in Taguig is likewise under construction.

In the north, the MPTC is constructing the 8- kilometer NLEX Connector Road and the 2.60-km NLEX Segment 10 R10.

In addition, the MPTC Group has pending unsolicited proposals to the DPWH to build the P92 billion 15.1 km NLEX-Cavitex Port Expressway Project and the P71.9 billion 19.4km C5 Expressway Project.