The completion of the first public private partnership (PPP) project awarded by the Aquino administration hit another roadblock as the P2.01-billion Daang Hari-South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) link is likely to be opened in June instead of this month.

Rafael Yabut, undersecretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), confirmed in an interview that the completion of the PPP toll road has been moved further to June.

“We are now looking at June,” Yabut said.

The Daang Hari-SLEX link now known as the Muntinlupa–Cavite expressway (MCX) was the first PPP project auctioned off and awarded under the flagship infrastructure program of the Aquino administration. Ayala Corp. through AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp. bagged the toll road project.

It involves the construction of a new four-kilometer four-lane toll road, from the junction of Daang Reyna and Daang Hari in Las Piñas and Bacoor, Cavite to SLEX through the Susana Heights Interchange in Muntinlupa, traversing the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) Reservation.

The proposed link-road would use the Susana Heights Interchange as exit and entry from north and south of SLEX and would include the construction of a new bridge or widening of the existing bridge crossing SLEX as well as the expansion of the Susana Heights toll plaza.

The project was awarded to the Ayala Group in December 2011 and the project was supposed to be completed last June but was delayed due to problems with interconnection to SLEX.

The conglomerate was looking at completing the project last December after singing an agreement with South Luzon Tollway Corp. (SLTC) paving the way for the construction of the interchange linking the toll road to SLEX.

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