Metro Pacific Investments’ unit Manila North Tollways (MNTC) has announced plan to invest up to PHP10bn ($226m) this year for toll road projects in the Philippines.

The projects include the integration of Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and North-Luzon Expressway.

According to MNTC, the SCTEX-NLEX toll integration will see an investment of PHP600m ($14m).

For the operations and maintenance of SCTEX, MNTC is said to have offered an upfront payment of PHP3.5bn ($71m).

"We are looking at additional expenditures for SCTEX."

MNTC president Rodrigo Franco told Manila Standard Today: "We are looking at additional expenditures for SCTEX. SCTEX integration is another PHP600m. We have to pay them PHP3.5bn, there is about a PHP1bn that we will spend for SCTEX."

According to Franco, the NLEX expansion involves PHP5bn ($113m), and is yet to be approved by the Toll Regulatory Board.

As part of the NLEX expansion, additional lanes will be built from San Fernando to Dau in Pampanga.

The integration is expected to bring new features of NLEX’s toll collection system to SCTEX, which include the use of short-range communication tags, contactless and magnetic cards, as well as radio frequency identification sticker tags to pay toll.

At present, MNTC is in the process of completing the construction of a 2.42km road, the NLEX’s Segment 9, which will connect NLEX to MacArthur Highway in Valenzuela City.

The alignment features two pedestrian footbridges, two vehicular overpasses and seven drainage box culverts and is slated for completion by March.