Page 52 - May 2018 - December 2018 Issue

The Metro Pacific Tollways South Story

With permission, we published verbatim the email sent by MPT Toll booths were refurbished
South President Luigi Bautista last July 4, 2018 to all the
Management Committee (MANCOM) regarding the ongoing
transformation of Metro Pacific Tollways South. Italics and
photographs were provided for elaboration and illustration.
THE MPT SOUTH STORY
January 2013 – to the present (5.5 years)
Pwede bang mag-kwento ng MPT South Story? Masarap
pag-usapan ito kasi tungkol ito sa ating lahat. This is my
version..subject to your addition, insertion and correction.
In November 2012, MVP (Manny V. Pangilinan) bought Cavitex.
Almost immediately thereafter in the Christmas party of MPTC, it
was announced that I will be transferred to CIC (Cavite Infrastructure
Corporation).
Kumportable na po ako noon sa MNTC (Manila North Tollways
Corporation) bilang head ng Program Management Division, a
position that I held since December 2006. I said to myself, maybe
nga it was time to move on and officially end my affiliation with
MNTC; that was in December 2012. Thereafter, there were many of
you that did the same and moved to the South. CCL (Chris C. Lizo) BIG “WINS”:
and FDR (Francis D. Rojas) were there from the beginning until
today. 1. Modified Zapote Interchange was completed in September 2013
Cavitex at that time was in bad shape; really bad shape: 2. The Contract Price was “finally” certified by the IC (Independent
Consultant) in April 2014
1. The company was in financial difficulty and unable to service its 3. The TCS (Toll Collection System) was migrated to a system capable
debt; of ETC (Electronic Toll Collection).
2. 6.5 km R1 Expressway is cracking up and urgently needing heavy 4. ETap was implemented.
repair; 5. EWallet was implemented.
3. The Modified Zapote Interchange was only 60% complete. The 6. RFID (Radio-frequency identification) / Easy Drive was introduced.
Contractor had no financial strength nor technical capability and 7. The debt/s have been either retired or refinanced with better
resources to finish the long-delayed project; terms; Today, we are in good control of our P&L
4. There were a number of contractors and subcontractors trying to 8. A Mangrove Park changed the surroundings. There are now a
collect past billings that cannot be verified to be true; mangrove nursery and vegetable farm where employees can buy
5. There were only 14 employees, 3 of whom were project hires; cheap produce.
6. CIC continued to pay the Project Management Team (Katahira)
who did not seem to know how to “independently” and properly
manage a project;
7. There were two unions, and the workforce was aging;
8. There were suspected huge leakages in toll collection; and
9. The surroundings stinked with garbage. The offices and premises
were unkept.

So, let me refresh your memory on our achievements so far. I refer to
big and small achievements:
SMALL AND QUICK “WINS”:

1. Guardrails painted
2. Concrete barriers were installed
3. Reflectorized stickers were installed
4. Signage were replaced
5. Toll booths were refurbished
6. New equipment were purchased
7. Patrol vehicles and motorcycles were purchased
8. Offices were slowly renovated
9. Employees started a structured training program

51 | NEWS AND EVENTS