CAVITEX–C-5 Link

CAVITEX–C-5 Link, formerly the C-5 Southlink Expressway and signed as E2 of the Philippine expressway network,^[3][4] is a 7.708-kilometer (4.790-mile) controlled-access toll expressway in Metro Manila, connecting the Manila–Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) to Circumferential Road 5 (C-5) in Taguig. The project is being built at a cost of ₱15 billion.^[6] It is a joint project of the Philippine Reclamation Authority, Toll Regulatory Board, and Cavitex Infrastructure Corporation, a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation. Currently operational between Taguig up to E. Rodriguez Avenue (Segment 3A) and the segment between Parañaque Interchange up to CAVITEX Interchange (Segment 2) in Parañaque only, the remaining segment between E. Rodriguez Avenue up to Parañaque Interchange (Segment 3B) is currently under construction.

CAVITEX–C-5 Link
C-5 Southlink Expressway
The expressway in Pasay, near Merville, Parañaque
Route information
Maintained by PEA Tollway Corporation[1] and Cavitex Infrastructure Corporation
Length	7.708 km[2] (4.790 mi) 5.7 km (3.5 mi) currently operational as of April 2025
Existed	2019–present
Component highways	E2[3][4]
Restrictions	No motorcycles below 400cc[5]
Major junctions
East end	N11 (C.P. Garcia Avenue) in Taguig
West end	E3 (Manila–Cavite Expressway) in Parañaque
Location
Country	Philippines
Regions	Metro Manila
Major cities	Parañaque, Pasay, and Taguig
Highway system
Roads in the Philippines Highways Expressways List

Route description

Aerial view of CAVITEX–C-5 Link in Pasay and Taguig

CAVITEX–C-5 Link starts at Carlos P. Garcia Avenue (C-5) in Taguig near its interchange with the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). It then ascends as the existing flyover that crosses Skyway, the PNR Metro Commuter Line, SLEX and the at-grade expressway's service roads before descending along C-5 Extension, which serves as its frontage roads, in Pasay. It then continues its course south of Ninoy Aquino International Airport until it meets its current terminus at C-5 Road Extension in Parañaque, near Moonwalk and a Shell station. Unlike most expressways in the Philippine expressway network, the maximum speed on its existing section is 60 kilometers per hour (37 mph).^[7]

The expressway's section towards the Manila–Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) is under construction. It will continue its course south of the airport. It will then pass by the Global Airport Business Park and Amvel City, where an interchange towards Dr. Santos Avenue and a future toll plaza are located. A flyover crosses Dr. Santos, the LRT-1 Cavite Extension, and Diego Cera Avenue. It ends at a trumpet interchange with CAVITEX near the latter's Parañaque toll plaza.

History

In 1993, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) conducted a study on the proposed urban expressway system in Metro Manila. The master plan included the proposed Central Circumferential Expressway that would follow the old Circumferential Road 5 alignment from Navotas to Parañaque with a total length of about 45.8 kilometers (28.5 mi).^[8]

On December 27, 1994, a Joint Venture Agreement between the Public Estates Authority (now called Philippine Reclamation Authority) and the Malaysian group of Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) and Renong Berhad (Renong) was signed to develop the Manila–Cavite Toll Expressway Project (MCTEP). The project includes the original south extension of Circumferential Road 5, referred to as Segments 2 and 3.^[9] It was later approved by the Senate, and C-5's south extension has been made as a toll expressway. However, in 2010, the project was scrapped in favor of the toll-free C-5 Road Extension, which was controversial for traversing several of then-Senator Manny Villar's properties in Parañaque and Las Piñas.^[10][11] The toll expressway project was later revived as the C-5 Southlink Expressway project.

CAVITEX C-5 Link Segments 3A-2 and 2 under construction in San Dionisio, Parañaque (April 2023)

Construction started on May 8, 2016.^[12][13] The expressway is being built in two phases. The first phase fills the gap between the C-5 main route and the C-5 Extension near Merville, Parañaque by constructing a 2.2-kilometer (1.4 mi) flyover over the South Luzon Expressway and Skyway. The second phase involves the construction of the Merville–R-1 segments.

Phase 1, or Section 3A-1 (C-5 to Merville), was opened to traffic on July 23, 2019.^[14][15] The 1.6-kilometer (0.99 mi) Segment 3A-2 (Merville to E. Rodriguez) opened on August 14, 2022,^[16][17] with the Merville Exit opening later on October 25.^[18]

On June 23, 2024, the expressway's 1.9-kilometer (1.2 mi) Segment 2, which runs from CAVITEX to Parañaque (Sucat) interchanges, was opened to traffic. The latter interchange is, however, independent from the existing 3.8-kilometer (2.4 mi) section from C-5 to Barangay Santo Niño in Parañaque. Toll collection on Segment 2 began on September 23, 2024.^[19] The 2-kilometer (1.2 mi) Segment 3B will complete the missing link, connecting the sections between the Parañaque and Merville exits. It broke ground two days earlier,^[20] with completion slated for March 2025.^[21]

Kaingin Service Road

In November 2024, the newly inaugurated CAVITEX Infrastructure Corporation's Kaingin Service Road (near the near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport perimeter fence) connects Multinational Avenue to the CAVITEX C5 Link Flyover Extension-Merville-C5.^[22]

Toll

The expressway uses a barrier toll system, where motorists pay a fixed toll rate upon exit, westbound entry at Sucat Interchange, or the future Sucat toll plaza for eastbound motorists. Integrated with the toll system of CAVITEX, the electronic toll collection (ETC) system on the expressway is operated by Easytrip Services Corporation and collections are done on both dedicated lanes and mixed lanes at the toll barriers.^[20][19]

Tolls are assessed in each direction at each barrier, based on class. In accordance with the law, all toll rates include a 12% value-added tax.

Class	Toll[23][19]
	Taguig–Merville	Sucat–CAVITEX (Segment 2)
Class 1 (Cars, motorcycles, SUVs, Jeepneys)	₱35.00	₱36.00
Class 2 (Buses, light trucks)	₱69.00	₱72.00
Class 3 (Heavy trucks)	₱104.00	₱108.00

Exits

This entire route is located in Metro Manila. Exits will be numbered by kilometer posts, with Rizal Park in Manila designated as kilometer zero. 

Province	City/Municipality	km	mi	Exit	Name	Destinations	Notes
Taguig					Taguig	N11 (C.P. Garcia Avenue) – Taguig, Pasig, Pateros	Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; eastern terminus
				Taguig Toll Plaza (eastbound only)
Pasay					SLEX	AH 26 (E2) (SLEX) – Manila	Proposed eastbound exit and westbound entrance[2][24]
				Merville Toll Plaza (westbound only)
						C-5 Road Extension	Former western terminus (2019–2022)
					Moonwalk	C-5 Road Extension	Westbound exit and closed eastbound entrance[6][18]
Parañaque						C-5 Road Extension	Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; former western terminus (2022–2024)
					Parañaque (Sucat)	N195 (Ninoy Aquino Avenue) / C-5 Extension – NAIA Terminals 1 and 2, Sucat	Partial cloverleaf or folded diamond interchange[2][6][18]
				Sucat Toll Plaza[25]
					R-1 (CAVITEX)	E3 (CAVITEX) – Bacoor, Las Piñas, Kawit, Manila, Pasay	Western terminus; trumpet interchange[2][6]
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Closed/former       Incomplete access        Tolled       Unopened