BATANGAS – The provincial government of Batangas has granted San Miguel Corporation (SMC) a 35-year concession to design, build, operate, and maintain a four-lane, 61-kilometer toll road that would hopefully spur economic growth here. The SMC is undertaking the P44.77-billion Nasugbu-Bauan Expressway (NBEX) project that will provide a faster connection between the eastern and western portions of Batangas province. Batangas Gov.  Hermilando Mandanas and SMC president and Chief Executive Officer Ramon S. Ang signed the joint venture agreement for the project in a ceremony held at the Balayan Government Center where Ang was also officially named an adopted son of Batangas. “This project will drive a lot of development for our province and for our towns here in the first district,” said Mandanas. “Higit sa lahat, mas marami itong maibibigay na tulong at serbisyo sa ating mga mamamayan. Tunay pong partner in development ang San Miguel hindi lamang po sa Batangas, kundi sa buong Pilipinas (Above all, this project would benefit not only the people of Batangas but also of the entire Philippines),” added Mandanas. For his part, Ang said: “Batangas province has always been very close to my heart. It is home to many of our facilities. It has always been a valuable and reliable partner of San Miguel and as such, it is vital to our efforts to support our national economy and uplift the lives of many Filipinos through regional development.” He added, “I’m glad that our company will have another opportunity to further strengthen our collaboration with Batangas, through the NBEX, and ensure that its benefits are shared broadly.” The SMC top honcho said his company has committed to deliver 70 percent of the project’s profits to the local government once it is operational, to be used to provide vital services for Batangas residents. “This will be key to furthering the growth of the province and improving lives and livelihood,” stressed Ang. NBEX is a vital infrastructure initiative in Southern Luzon. It will improve travel across towns throughout Batangas, particularly the first district. Once completed, it will make Nasugbu, Balayan, Lemery, Bauan, the City of Calaca, and other municipalities, more accessible. The project is expected to cut travel time by half between Nasugbu to Bauan, Batangas from 1.5 hours to just 45 minutes. It will also reduce the usual 5-hour trip to and from Manila to only 2 hours. NBEX, which begins at Brgy. Kaylaway, Nasugbu town, runs parallel to Tagaytay-Nasugbu and Palico-Balayan highways. The terminus of NBEX at Brgy. Kaylaway connects the expressway to another SMC Infrastructure project, the Cavite-Batangas Expressway (CBEX), which leads to Tagaytay City and Silang, Cavite. It has four sections: Section 1 is a 10.78-km segment that stretches from Brgy. Kaylaway to Brgy. Banilad in Nasugbu town; Section 2 is a 13.03-km segment from Brgy. Banilad to Balayan town; Section 3 is a 16.3-km segment from Balayan to Lemery, and Section 4 is a 20.79-km segment from Lemery to Bauan. The NBEX target for substantial completion is within 48 months, including the 12-month development of the detailed engineering design.