The Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) project is seen to showcase Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC)’s role in decarbonizing the transport sector in the country.
In a statement on Thursday, MPTC chief finance officer and senior executive sponsor for sustainability Christopher Lizo said that the infrastructure project is part of the company’s “commitment to build with least disruption to the communities and the environment,” adding that CALAX also supports the country’s “first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 75% by the year 2030.”
Set to be fully completed by 2023, 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. As of today, CALAX operates from Biñan, Laguna up to the east of Silang, Cavite.
“CALAX is being integrated with resource-saving and emission-reduction technologies while maintaining the high standard of road safety features of the expressway,” MPTC said.
The toll road company said that the operational sections of CALAX’s existing toll plazas are equipped with solar panels that can power its own operations. It noted that since the start of installation last May, the total power output of 116.58kWp has avoided over 10,200 kg of carbon dioxide (CO2), which is equivalent to having planted 304 trees.
MPTC said that the installed solar panels and inverters are expected to be operational for 25 years and 10 years, respectively. It added that lightings and roadway lightings have been installed with LED fixtures while energy-efficient equipment will also be utilized on its ongoing and future projects.
Additionally, the company shared that it’s 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 (2500 sqm.), Santa Rosa Interchange (8500 sqm.), and Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Entry/Exit (425 sqm.). There are also ongoing landscaping activities at Subsection 5-Silang East Interchange which shall have a total of 13,800 sqm. The company also targets to plant 20,000 trees by end of 2022,” it said.
While pushing for ecological balance, the toll road company is also studying how to further transition its operational toll roads to more sustainable highways.
“MPTC’s Green Highway Initiative in CALAX aligns with MPIC’s sustainability efforts that support the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly in upgrading all industries and infrastructures to make them sustainable (SDG 9) and promoting innovation,” it added.