SMC SLEX Inc. has increased its capital expenditures (capex) this year to fund the expansion of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).
The company said its board approved the supplemental capex budget of P3.27 billion this year to fund additional expansion projects.
This brings the total capex to P11.33 billion from earlier estimates of P8.06 billion this year to partially finance the expansion of the network and construction of a new toll road.
SMC SLEX said a significant portion of the capex will go towards the TR4 project. The 66.74-kilometer toll road will connect Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Lucena City, Quezon.
Upon completion in 2026, the P50 billion project aims to significantly reduce travel time between these two points, from 3 hours to just 45 minutes.
The toll road is divided into six sections, including the stretch from Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Makban in Laguna (11.32 km); Makban to San Pablo City (12.75 km); San Pablo to Tiaong in Quezon (7.5 km); Tiaong to Candelaria (15 km); Candelaria to Tayabas (10.21 km); and Tayabas to Lucena (9.96 km).
The additional funds will also be used for the widening of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). This project aims to improve the overall traffic flow and capacity of this vital expressway
SMC SLEX earlier reported a net income of P2.37 billion in the January to June period, up 18 percent from P2 billion in the same period last year.
The company reported toll revenue of P3.96 billion, a 16 percent increase from P3.41 billion last year. Tollway transactions were 94 percent RFID and only 6 percent in cash.
SLEX achieved an average daily traffic (ADT) of 357,548 over six months, a 2 percent increase from only 351,024 in 2023.
SLEX spans 36.1 kilometers from Alabang, Muntinlupa to Sto. Tomas, Batangas. It is one of three major expressways linking Metro Manila to the key southern province of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon (Calabarzon).
