By Elaine Ramos Alanguilan

MTD Capital Bhd of Malaysia, the lead proponent of the South Luzon Expressway rehabilitation project, has committed to speed up construction works to meet the completion target of December this year for the Alabang viaduct component.

Trade Secretary Peter Favila told reporters the Malaysians had assured him that the project was on track, exept for typhoons that could probably derail construction works.

?Apart from the typhoons, they are committed to complete the project on schedule. Any additional financing requirements they would raise on their own,? said Favila.

The upgrading and rehabilitation project was started in May 2006 by South Luzon Tollway Corp., a joint venture between state-owned Philippine National Construction Corp. and MTD Capital, through local unit MTD Manila Expressway Corp.

The Web site of unit MTD Construction, said the Slex upgrade and rehabilitation project hasdreached 55 percent completion as of June 2008.

?We intend to hand over the first two sections, Alabang Viaduct and rehabilitation and widening of the Alabang-Calamba segment to the client, SLTC, in financial year 2010. The last section, construction of the Calamba-Sto. Tomas segment, is expected completed by financial year 2011,? according to the Web site.

The Alabang Viaduct, a major component of phase 1, links Metro Manila and South Luzon and carries up to 250,000 vehicles per day, the heaviest traffic volume of any bridgeway in the country.

Its rehabilitation required the retrofitting of 57 columns and footings and the addition of 15 more in the substructure and the launching of 350 new girders to widen the bridgedeck from 6 to 8 lanes.

Reconstruction of the 1.2-kilometer bridge began in November 2006 and was scheduled for completion in December 2009.