SMC, Government Agencies Sign Right-of-Way Deal for P45.27-B Skyway Stage 4 Project

San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and key government agencies signed a right-of-way usage agreement (ROWUA) on Monday to facilitate the construction of the P45.27-billion Skyway Stage 4 Project, a 32.7-kilometer expressway connecting Quezon City and Taguig City.

The agreement, signed by SMC, the Department of National Defense (DND), the Veterans Federation of the Philippines, and the Toll Regulatory Board, will allow for smoother construction through properties owned by the Veterans Federation.

“This agreement signals another game-changing infrastructure initiative. This toll road will provide a much-needed alternate route, easing congestion along EDSA and other key corridors,” said Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista at the signing ceremony.

The Southeast Metro Manila Expressway (SEMME), as the project is formally known, will link the Skyway System at Arca South in Taguig (formerly the FTI Complex) to the Batasan Complex in Quezon City. It is expected to provide an alternative route for motorists traveling from Parañaque to Metro Manila and Rizal.

SEMME will feature a mix of elevated and at-grade expressways and is projected to accommodate 42,477 to 88,838 vehicles daily, significantly reducing travel time from Bicutan to Batasan from 1 hour and 50 minutes to just 26 minutes.

“We cannot overemphasize the importance of SEMME in improving traffic in our cities,” said SMC CEO Ramon Ang. “Once fully operational, we project about 150,000 vehicles to use it daily. Travel time from Bicutan to Batasan will be slashed from nearly two hours to under 30 minutes. Just as Skyway Stage 3 helped decongest EDSA, SEMME can help decongest C-5,” Ang added.

This agreement builds on SMC’s previous integration deal with Ayala Land Inc. (ALI), signed in November 2023, to connect Arca South on- and off-ramps with the Skyway system.