On Thursday, January 14, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte inaugurated the third stage of the Metro Manila Skyway Project (MMSS-3) built to ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila, saying the administration’s Build, Build, Build program has started to bear fruit.
“The successful completion of the Skyway is a testament to the efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of our Build, Build, Build Program,” President Duterte said in a speech during the inauguration rites held at Del Monte Toll Plaza in Araneta Avenue, Quezon City.
“It attests to the endless possibilities that we can accomplish through the dynamic partnership between the government and the private sector.”
As Filipinos marvel the feat of completing the Skyway project, the President said he hopes that people in government will be reminded of their responsibility to not only ensure the timely completion of all public infrastructure projects, but also to shield the public from all forms of inconvenience during constructions.
At the same time, he assured Filipino that his administration would continue to pursue its Build, Build, Build program guided by the highest standards of integrity, transparency and accountability.
He also expressed his gratitude to the government’s private sector partners — Citra Central Expressway Corp. and San Miguel Corp – for trusting his administration to complete the project.
“Your investment has finally paid off, and the Skyway shall serve as an enduring edifice of the legacy that we will leave behind for future generations of Filipinos,” he said.
“With the trust and help of the private sector and of the Filipino people, I am confident that we can build the foundations of an inclusive, robust and prosperous nation that we can proudly leave behind to our children,” he added.
The Chief Executive also thanked all the Filipino laborers for their toil to make the project a reality.
“They may not be earning much pero ang trabaho pinakita nila will last for generations. So kung sino man ngayon ang mga trabahante dito, tanggapin po ninyo ang mainit kong pagbati,” he said
The 19-kilometer segment of the Skyway, which runs from Buendia in Makati to NLEX in Balintawak, was completed through the joint efforts of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Citra Central Expressway Corp. and San Miguel Holdings.
By connecting MMSS-3 with Skyway Stages 1 and 2, a continuous 35-kilometer elevated expressway now directly links Alabang with Balintawak.
The project is expected to significantly contribute to a more efficient movement of goods and people from north to south, and within Manila.
