METRO Pacific Tollways South (MPT South), a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the infrastructure arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Interior and Local Government- CALABARZON (DILG IV-A) to embark on road safety education campaigns and tourism promotion for the CALABARZON region.
Through the MOU, MPT South and DILG IV-A agreed to jointly pool knowledge and expertise on various facets of local governance and social development, utilizing the Local Governance Resource Center (LGRC) facility — a dynamic, interactive, and virtual program that will serve as a center of learning for innovation and knowledge sharing on local government, and as a complement strategy in the development of local government unit (LGU) capacities.
Safe expressway
The partnership is expected to further intensify MPT South’s social advocacy programs such as Drayberks and Bayani Ka, which are both road safety education programs.
Drayberks program came from the root words ‘Drayber’ and ‘Barkada’, gathers motorists who regularly use the MPT South’s expressways: the Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX); CAVITEX C5 Link; and Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX), and shows them how they can take advantage of its safety features and play a part in keeping the expressway safe. Bayani Ka on the other hand, which means Bayani ng Kalsada, is designed to enjoin individuals in maintaining a safe expressway by simply abiding by the rules of the Limited Access Facility (R.A. 2000). MPT South will also collaborate with DILG IV-A in promoting sites, taste, and other offerings of the beautiful tourist destinations in CALABARZON through its tourism page Biyaheng South, which is active on both Facebook and TikTok social media platforms. Representing MPT South for the virtual signing is its Spokesperson and Assistant Vice President for Communications and Stakeholder Management, Ms. Arlette V. Capistrano; while DILG Region IV-A was represented by its Regional Director Ariel O. Iglesia, CESO IV.
Economic recovery
“We are honored to partner with DILG IV-A on our social development projects for road safety and tourism promotion for the region. With this partnership, and now that the government loosens travel restrictions, we aim to help with the economic recovery of the region by boosting socio-economic activities through tourism.,” said MPT South Spokesperson and Assistant Vice President for Communications and Stakeholder Management Ms. Arlette Capistrano.
“The Department through the Local Governance Resource Center has always banked on partnerships with agencies and organizations to deliver our mandate of guiding and empowering LGUs in effective program implementation and local governance. We are thankful for MPT South’s interest in collaborating with us on social development projects and we are looking forward to empowering our LGUs together,” cited DILG IV-A Regional Director Ariel Iglesia, CESO IV.
Aside from CAVITEX, CAVITEX C5 Link, and CALAX, MPTC also holds concession rights for North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), the Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), the NLEX Connector Road, and the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) in Cebu.
