San Miguel, DOTR, DND Sign Right-of-Way Agreement for Southeast Metro Manila Expressway

San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and the government have inked an agreement that takes the much-awaited Skyway 4 or Southeast Metro Manila Expressway (SEMME) one step closer to reality.

​On Monday, February 3, SMC's infrastructure arm signed a right-of-way usage agreement with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Department of National Defense (DND), and the Veterans Association of the Philippines, which owns some of the land that SEMME's carriageway will traverse.

“The agreement signals another game-changing infrastructure initiative. This toll road, with a combination of at-grade and elevated expressways, will create a much-needed alternate route, bypassing traffic-heavy roads and easing congestion along EDSA and other key corridors,” said Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista.

“With SMC at the helm, this project underscores our commitment to long-term solutions for urban mobility,” he added.

For his part, SMC Chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang said: “We cannot overemphasize the importance of SEMME in improving the traffic situation in our cities. It will benefit residents in the southern and eastern parts of Metro Manila by providing an alternative route to Quezon City.”

“Once fully operational, we project about 150,000 vehicles to use it daily. Travel time from Bicutan, Taguig, to the Batasan area in Quezon City will be significantly reduced from about two hours to just under 30 minutes. Just as Skyway Stage 3 helped decongest EDSA, SEMME can help decongest C-5,” he added.

Ang restated the company's intention to begin construction on the first leg of SEMME as soon as all right-of-way issues are resolved.

He also recognized the Ayala Group's efforts to work with SMC on linking its Arca South estate with the Skyway System via SEMME. Both companies have inked an integration agreement in which an exit from SEMME will be created on the Arca South estate.

SEMME is a 32.66-km toll expressway connecting the Skyway System at Arca South — formerly the FTI Complex in Taguig City — and extending all the way to the Batasan Complex in Quezon City. The expressway is also expected to provide an alternative route for motorists and travelers from Parañaque and Taguig heading to the eastern parts of Metro Manila and Rizal, with planned exits at Ortigas Avenue Extension, Marcos Highway, and Tumana Bridge in Quezon City.