First Phase of SMC Tollway to Open in 3 Years
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista is urging San Miguel Corp. to
complete the first phase of the Southeast Metro Manila Expressway or SEMME
in three years.
The SEMME is a ₱45.29-billion peso project to build a tollway connecting
northern and southern Metro Manila via the eastern corridor.
The nearly 33-kilometer SEMME experienced delays due to right-of-way
procurement problems. However, these issues have been resolved, allowing
construction to proceed.
Bautista expects the first phase, which will link FTI to C5 Road, to be
completed before President Marcos's term ends in 2028.
The SEMME aims to significantly reduce travel time between Western Bicutan
in Taguig City and Batasan Hills in Quezon City to less than 30 minutes,
benefiting up to 88,000 motorists daily.
That the SEMME is integrated into the existing network of expressways
should be a boon to motorists, although more needs to be done to ensure the
bottlenecks at exits and interchanges would be a thing of the past.