PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday led the opening of the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway-C5 Southlink Segment, a two-kilometer stretch connecting the cities of Parañaque and Taguig that will cut travel time between them from 1.5 hours to just 15 minutes.
“And about 36,000 vehicles will pass through here, so, this is a big deal,” Marcos said in Filipino following the inspection.
“It’s no small feat to reduce your commute from an hour and a half to 15 minutes. That’s a huge savings,” the president said, adding that the shorter drive would also enable motorists to save on gas.
Marcos was accompanied by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon and Department of Transportation (DOTr) Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez, other government officials, and representatives of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC).
A P3.3-billion deal between Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. and DM Consunji Inc., the six-lane expressway is the last to be completed of the 7.7-kilometer infrastructure divided into four segments — Segments 3A-1 (C5 to Merville), 3A-2 (Merville to E. Rodriguez) and 2 (Cavitex to Sucat Interchange) opened in July 2019, August 2022 and June 2024, respectively.
From March 30 to April 30, the toll for Segment 3B will be waived to accommodate those traveling for the Holy Week and to lower travelers’ expenses while on the road, the president said.
Dizon said motorists and commuters can expect to save more on fuel, following the opening of the Cavitex-C5 Expressway Segment 3B.
“What used to be a frustrating, stop-and-go journey from Taguig to Parañaque — often stretching up to two hours in heavy traffic — can now be done in just 15 minutes. That’s not just a small improvement — that’s a massive upgrade to everyday life for around 36,000 motorists and commuters who take this route daily,” added Dizon.
The DPWH chief said the opening comes at a crucial time when fuel prices are in their all-time high, biting into people’s budgets.
“The directive from the president — along with Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista — was clear: accelerate the opening of as many new roads as possible in the lead-up to Holy Week. With fuel prices remaining high, the government aims to ease the burden on everyday Filipinos by improving road infrastructure,” he said.
Dizon said the impact of the new expressway segment goes beyond just shorter trips because it will help decongest major roads south of Metro Manila, cut fuel consumption significantly, reduce daily commuter stress and improve mobility for business and logistics.
“For thousands of Filipinos, this isn’t just another road opening — it’s a real, everyday win. Fewer hours wasted. Less money spent. More time for what actually matters,” Dizon said.
Apart from improving transportation efficiency and reducing costs, Segment 3B is also expected to enhance access for motorists from the South, such as Cavite, to metropolitan areas, thereby boosting economic development in Southern Metro Manila and Cavite by providing better access to industrial, commercial, and residential areas.
More mobility efforts are set to be inaugurated, including the opening of the Central Luzon Link Expressway, connecting Tarlac City to Cabanatuan City on Tuesday, March 31.
