By: Daniza Fernandez – @inquirerdotnetINQUIRER.net, as seen on https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1473847/tollway-construction-to-create-thousands-of-jobs-mptc-president, August 15, 2021.

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) president and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rodrigo Franco said that tollway construction projects will create thousands of jobs for Filipinos and further spur economic growth.

“These alone will create thousands of jobs during and after tollway construction, give rise to allied industries in project sites, re-ignite investment enthusiasm, and rekindle hope for an increasing number of our people,” Franco said in a statement on Friday.

Franco shared that MPTC is expediting tollway infrastructure development via the North Luzon Expressway Connector, the Urban Ring Road in Metro Manila, and the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway.

He added that MPTC expressways are now fully implementing contactless transactions at toll plazas.

Franco said that maximizing digital technology utilization is part of their medium-term plan.

The COVID-19 pandemic, however, prompted them to implement it swiftly.

“We were prompted for quick implementation, cooperating with government to control the spread of the COVID virus. Thus, cashless transactions, through RFID, were installed and activated in all toll plazas of MPTC’s expressways.”