September 5, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Seasoned govt Gilbert Santa Maria is making the leap from runways to tollways following his appointment as the brand new head of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC).
MPTC yesterday introduced the designation of Santa Maria as president and CEO, taking on the place left by interim head Jose Maria Lim.
Santa Maria will lead MPTC because it prepares for an preliminary public providing (IPO) and explores a merger with San Miguel Corp.’s (SMC) toll enterprise.
Santa Maria, who led flag provider Philippine Airways (PAL) in the course of the pandemic, may even see the completion of MPTC’s initiatives to the south. Particularly, MPTC is engaged on lastly ending the Cavite-Laguna Expressway by 2026.
Furthermore, MPTC is developing an airport highway to spur extra visitors on the Cebu-Cordova Hyperlink Expressway. The corporate can be getting ready to transition to a barrier-free enterprise, a challenge that will ease visitors buildup by eradicating the toll plazas.
As soon as MPTC completes its precedence initiatives, it plans to lift a minimal of P30 billion in an IPO, because it seeks to enhance its monetary well being by chopping down money owed.
MPTC can be speaking to SMC for a attainable merger of their toll pursuits, however that is taking longer than normal given the heavy process of pricing their respective property.
With this, Santa Maria was known as to guide MPTC, because the administration believes his greater than three many years of experience in company and monetary governance is required within the boardroom.
Sta. Maria was PAL’s president and chief working officer on the top of the pandemic, a interval when carriers globally have been bleeding due to journey restrictions. He headed PAL in its restructuring efforts, and now the airline is making revenue once more.
Except for Sta. Maria’s designation, MPTC introduced adjustments in management positions throughout its toll ventures. Luis Reñon was appointed as president and basic supervisor of NLEX Corp., whereas Metro Pacific Water chief Andrew Pangilinan will concurrently head MPT South.
Marisa Conde, vp for technical finance of the Metro Pacific Investments Corp., will be part of MPTC as officer-in-charge and interim chief finance officer.
MPTC is likely one of the two largest toll builders within the Philippines, with its portfolio composed of the North Luzon Expressway, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, amongst others.