61-km Nasugbu-Bauan Expressway project signed by SMC, Batangas

We can expect to see more expressways popping up south of Metro Manila. Aside from the Cavite-Tagaytay-Batangas Expressway (CTBEX) and the Cavite-Batangas Expressway (CBEX) we reported last week, there will be another toll road that will be constructed in Southern Tagalog.

It will be called the Nasugbu-Bauan Expressway (NBEX) and it's set to provide a faster connection between the eastern and western portions of Batangas.

This was made official after the Batangas provincial government granted SMC Infrastructure a 35-year concession to design, build, operate, and maintain the soon-to-be-built 61-kilometer, four-lane expressway. The two parties today signed the joint venture agreement for the project in a ceremony held at the Balayan Government Center.

“Batangas province has always been very close to my heart. It is home to many of our facilities. It has always been a valuable and reliable partner of San Miguel and as such, it is vital to our efforts to support our national economy and uplift the lives of many Filipinos through regional development,” said Ramon S. Ang.

For Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas, the NBEX project will help drive development for the province of Batangas.

“This project will drive a lot of development for our province and for our towns here in the first district. Higit sa lahat, mas marami itong maibibigay na tulong at serbisyo sa ating mga mamamayan. Tunay pong partner in development ang San Miguel hindi lamang po sa Batangas, kundi sa buong Pilipinas,” said Mandanas.

[This project will drive a lot of development for our province and for our towns here in the first district. Above all, it can provide more help and services to our citizens. San Miguel is a true partner in development not only in Batangas, but in the entire Philippines]

Once NBEX is completed, Ang shared that it will improve travel across towns throughout Batangas, particularly the first district. More importantly, it will make Nasugbu, Balayan, Lemery, Bauan, the City of Calaca, and other municipalities, more accessible to motorists. Transportation of people and goods will be easier, faster, and more efficient resulting in a lower cost of business and higher economic activity.

The 61-kilometer expressway is also estimated to reduce travel time by half between Nasugbu to Bauan, Batangas from 1.5 hours to only 45 minutes. Meanwhile, the usual 5-hour trip to and from Manila will be cut to just 2 hours.

NBEX, which will begin at Brgy. Kaylaway, Nasugbu, will run parallel to Tagaytay-Nasugbu and Palico-Balayan highways. The terminus of NBEX at Brgy. Kaylaway connects the expressway to another SMC Infrastructure project, the Cavite-Batangas Expressway (CBEX), which leads to Tagaytay City and Silang, Cavite.

The project has four sections: Section 1 is a 10.78-km segment that stretches from Brgy. Kaylaway to Brgy. Banilad in Nasugbu town; Section 2 is a 13.03-km segment from Brgy. Banilad to Balayan town; Section 3 is a 16.3-km segment from Balayan to Lemery, and Section 4 is a 20.79-km segment from Lemery to Bauan.

As to when it will be completed, Ang said that the substantial completion of NBEX is at 48 months, including the 12-month development of the detailed engineering design.