Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the developer and operator of the biggest network of world-class expressways in the Philippines, won the “ASEAN Business Award for Priority Integration Sector: Infrastructure” in the “Large Tier” category for 2019. 

MPTC received the award during the 2019 ASEAN Business Awards (ABA) Gala Night in Nonthaburi, Bangkok last Nov. 2. Serving as one of the highlights of the recently concluded 35th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit hosted by Thailand, the awarding rites was graced by Thai Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and other business leaders from other ASEAN countries.

“This recognition is very timely as we are making inroads into the ASEAN region, to build and operate tollways, initially Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand.  As we bring to these countries our own highly developed technologies and world-class standards,” Rodrigo E. Franco, the company’s president and chief executive officer, said.

Romulo S. Quimbo, Jr., MPTC senior vice president for Communication and Stakeholder Management and Celeste Pia Alimon, MPTC senior manager for Branding and Communication received the award.

“This award underscores shareholder belief and commitment in all our infrastructure projects,” Quimbo said. 

“This is the business that we at the Tollways Group do best: improve people’s mobility, enhance their quality of life, grow communities and build a nation,” he added.

The ABA, one of the most prestigious business awards programs and the first of its kind in the region, was established in 2007 by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council to recognize enterprises that contribute to the growth of the ASEAN economy. Aside from honoring outstanding regional companies, the ABA also serves as a platform for spreading information about the ASEAN Economic Community and for promoting public-private partnerships and consultation.

Since its launching in 2007, the ABA has recognized more than 100 regional companies that excel in the categories of growth, employment, innovation and corporate social responsibility (CSR). In 2015, the awards program added another category: priority integration sectors to honor outstanding companies in 17 industries that are considered ASEAN priority sectors. These include agri-business, automotive, energy, finance, food and beverage, logistics, retail, and infrastructure.

Awardees are chosen based on four criteria: impact on human capital development through improvements on the quality of the workforce’s skills, cooperation with governments or training institutes, innovation and replicability in other sectors or other ASEAN member-states, and financial and institutional sustainability.    

The developer, builder and operator of the largest toll road network in the Philippines, MPTC is a major contributor to the country’s infrastructure development. And by building and operating world-class expressways that have dramatically made the transport of people and goods faster, easier and safer, the company is widely perceived as an industry leader that has enhanced – and continues to enhance – people’s mobility and, in the process, accelerated the growth of trade and industry, opened up new business opportunities, generated employment, and helped people build better lives.  

At present, MPTC holds long-term concessions for three major tollways: the 103-kilometer North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), the 94-kilometer Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), and the 16-kilometer Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (CAVITEX). 

It is also currently constructing several toll expressways: the 45-kilometer Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) that will connect CAVITEX to the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), and the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX). The latter is an 8.5-kilometer bridge tollway that will directly connect Cebu City to the municipality of Cordova across the Mactan channel and provide an alternate congestion-free route to the Mactan Cebu International Airport. The third Cebu-Mactan bridge to be built, CCLEX is MPTC’s first project outside Luzon.

Other MPTC expressways under construction include the 8-kilometer elevated NLEX Connector, the 2.6-Km Harbor Link Segment 10 R-10 Section, the CAVITEX C5 Southlink Flyover (completed in July 2019), and the CAVITEX R-1 Enhancement projects.

Aiming to leverage its years of experience in building and managing expressways in the Philippines, the company is now setting its sights on its ASEAN neighbors. MPTC has acquired significant stakes in three major infrastructure companies in the region, the first Philippine company to do so. It now has substantial investments in PT Nusantara Infrastructure Tbk in Indonesia, CII Bridges and Roads in Vietnam, and Don Muang Tollway Public Limited in Thailand.