DISAGREEMENT ON CAVITEX TURNOVER TO PH GOVERNMENT

The administration of toll collection in the Cavite Toll Expressway Project (CAVITEX) should be transferred to the government, according to the Public Estates Authority Tollways Corporation (PEATC). In 2021, the operation and maintenance agreement of Cavitex Infrastructure Corporation (CIC) for this was completed.

PEATC has approached the Court of Appeals to seek a writ of mandamus to gain control of the expressway.

Toll collection of CAVITEX should be transferred (Photo courtesy of Danny Pata/GMA News)

Ariel Inton Spokesperson PEA-TC “What is the reason for returning the operation management of the toll, because it is expired and an important ingredient there is the collection of the toll fees. Because right now, when you pass by, the RFID and the EasyTrip is there’s. Now for every peso, 90 centavos to them, only 10 centavos to the government.”

According to the previous agreement, the toll revenue will be divided 90-10, 90% to the private sector and 10% to the government. That's why in 2022, the CIC's toll collection shares will be P22.9 billion while the government's share is only about P2.3 billion.

Inton insisted, the split should be 60-40, in favor of the government, CIC is a unit of the Metro Pacific tollways Corporation (MPTC). According to MPTC, although CIC's operation and maintenance agreement has expired, their operation and service contract with CAVITEX still exists.

It is also not right to be 60-40 in favor of the government to divide the collected toll. Rogelio Singson President & CEO of MPTC stated. "What was discussed, R-1, R-1 extension, and then the Cavitex C-5 link, is not done yet so it cannot be shifted to 60-40."

It is said that their offer to buy the government's shares in Cavitex remains, but the PEATC did not agree to this. Singson said, “P2.5 billion was the offer to buy our  residual interest. We have submitted offer four time in the past.”

"Buy out? Why not bid? You know maybe someone bid P50 billion, someone bid P100 billion. If they really buy out, we would have charged for the rental of the highway because the highway is not included in that. The highway is more or less worth about P100 billion, so if we rent, it won't be calculated on the other rental of highway."

Source: Philippine News Agency

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