Muntinlupa–Cavite Expressway

The Muntinlupa–Cavite Expressway (MCX), signed as E2 of the Philippine expressway network, is a 4 km controlled-access toll expressway linking the southern province of Cavite to Muntinlupa in the Philippines.

Opened to traffic on July 24, 2015, it is currently the shortest expressway in the Philippines, connecting the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) to the Daang Hari Road and Daang Reyna Road near Las Piñas and Bacoor.

Route description
Muntinlupa–Cavite Expressway acts as a connector between Daang Hari and South Luzon Expressway. The expressway passes near the vicinity of New Bilibid Prisons and Southville 2A, one of the relocation areas of informal settlers who once lived beside the Philippine National Railways line.

The expressway starts with a T-interchange with South Luzon Expressway near Susana Heights. It follows a slight curving route paralleling Magdaong River, which acts as a boundary between barangays Poblacion and Tunasan. It soon passes near the New Bilibid Prisons, where several access roads are rerouted with the construction of the expressway. The expressway ends as a roundabout with Daang Hari, Daang Reyna, and Biazon Road.

History
Alabang-Sto. Tomas Development Inc. (ASDI), a joint venture between Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC) and National Development Company (NDC), was incorporated in 2005 to undertake what was initially known as Daang Hari–SLEX Connector Road Project. On December 15, 2009, ASDI and PNCC signed a Memorandum of Agreement, with ASDI as the Main Turnkey Contractor. The project was 25% complete when the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) took over for public bidding. Ayala Corporation won the bid for ₱900 million, reimbursing ASDI ₱353 million.

Known in the planning stages as the Daang Hari–SLEX Link Road, the expressway was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority board on July 18, 2011, making it the first toll road awarded under the Public-Private Partnership program of the Benigno Aquino III administration. The Notice of Award was issued on December 22, 2011, and Ayala Corporation signed a 30-year concession agreement on April 12, 2012. Construction began on October 1, 2012, and concluded on June 30, 2015. On July 24, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. PHT, the expressway was opened to traffic following its inauguration by President Benigno Aquino III.

The expressway was operated by MCX Tollway Inc., a subsidiary of Ayala Corporation's AC Infrastructure Holdings Corporation (AC Infra). On December 7, 2019, FWD Life Philippines and AC Infra announced their Expressway Sponsorship Program, renaming the expressway as FWD-Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (FWD-MCX) as part of FWD's marketing initiative.

On July 19, 2023, the DPWH gave its consent for the transfer of ownership of the expressway from Ayala Corporation to the Villar Group. Subsequently, on August 9, 2023, the Villar Group, through Prime Asset Ventures Inc., completed the acquisition worth ₱3.8 billion.

Toll
Tolls are assessed in each direction at the toll barrier, based on class. An interoperability agreement was signed by Ayala Corporation and San Miguel Corporation, the operators of Muntinlupa–Cavite and South Luzon Expressways, respectively, on July 21, 2015.

As a result of the agreement, motorists using the Muntinlupa–Cavite Expressway would be required to pay a toll fee, which depends on the vehicle class, in addition to the toll fee between their entry or exit point at SLEX, Skyway, or, since 2022, the STAR Tollway and Susana Heights Exit. Eastbound vehicles paying in cash receive tickets at the MCX Toll Plaza and pay their toll fees upon exit from SLEX or STAR Tollway, or at the Skyway Main Toll Plaza in Muntinlupa, as part of San Miguel Corporation's Seamless Southern Tollways. Westbound vehicles pay their toll fees at the MCX Toll Plaza. In accordance with law, all toll rates include a 12% value-added tax.

The expressway implements an electronic toll collection (ETC) system, using the RFID-based Autosweep. The ETC system is shared with SMC Infrastructure tollways such as SLEX, Skyway, STAR Tollway, NAIAX, and TPLEX.

Source: Toll Regulatory Board