Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. said Friday it is studying the transition of its operational toll roads into more sustainable highways.
“This is in alignment with the company’s commitment to build with least disruption to the communities and the environment; and supporting Philippines’ first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 75 percent by the year 2030,” said MPTC chief finance officer and senior executive sponsor for sustainability Christopher Lizo.
The company’s Cavite-Laguna Expressway project is being integrated with resource-saving and emission-reduction technologies, while maintaining the high standard of road safety features of the expressway.
Toll plazas of the operational sections of CALAX are equipped with solar panels that can power its own operations. The total power output of 116.58kWp, since installation started in May 2021, avoided over 10,200 kg of carbon dioxide, or equivalent to having planted 304 trees.
Installed solar panels and inverters are expected to be operational for 25 years and 10 years, respectively. All future toll plazas and offices along the road alignment will have provisions of solar photovoltaic system installations.
Lightings and roadway lightings are installed with LED fixtures, thereby improving the company’s energy efficiency measures. Ongoing and future projects will utilize energy-efficient equipment.
CALAX is a 45-kilometer high-speed road network connecting the provinces of Cavite and Laguna, targeting to serve around 45,000 motorists upon its completion. CALAX operates from Binan, Laguna up to the east of Silang, Cavite. It is set to be fully completed by 2023.
MPCALA Holdings Inc. is also implementing carbon offsetting initiatives by planting trees or creating biodiverse areas along CALAX to offset the company’s emission and eventually, vehicular emissions of the customers.
Areas of green spaces were developed in various location along the expressway including Mamplasan entry/exit (2,500 sq. m.), Santa Rosa Interchange (8,500 sq. m.), and Santa Rosa-Tagaytay entry/exit (425 sq. m.). There are also ongoing landscaping activities at Subsection 5-Silang East Interchange which will have a total of 13,800 sq. m. The company targets to plant 20,000 trees by end of 2022. With Roy Tomandao
