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Metro Pacific Investments Corporation Chairman Manny Pangilinan is forging stronger ties with former rival San Miguel Corporation President and CEO Ramon Ang.

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Manny Pangilinan, Ramon Ang: From rivals to business partners

Jekki Pascual

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) Chairman Manny Pangilinan is forging stronger ties with former rival San Miguel Corp. (SMC) President and CEO Ramon Ang.At the launch of PLDT Home’s gigabit fiber service, Pangilinan said MPIC and SMC continue talks on the possibility of merging the toll businesses of the two companies.He said they are now exchanging relevant information, saying that it&#x27;s better to work together for the country.&quot;Rather competing with him, let’s do it together,&quot; Pangilinan said, adding, &quot;We should combine our forces to do better for the Philippines.” He admitted it may not be easy to merge the toll businesses as the expressways have separate franchises.But he is not pausing on the plan, even praising Ang for his commitment to the toll business.“He’s also a mechanic at heart. He likes to tinker. I think he does a lot of checking out on his tollways. I don&#x27;t do that,” said Pangilinan.Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. operates the North Luzon Expressway, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, and Cavite Expressway, while SMC Infrastructure operates the South Luzon Expressway, Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, Skyway and NAIA Expressway, among others.Ang is a recent board director of MPIC after investing in his personal capacity.The two have also partnered recently in the world of basketball— at the FIBA World Cup hosting in Manila, and at the 19th Asian Games.<div>MRT-3, LRT-1 SHARES, SUBWAY</div>Both the camps of Pangilinan and Ang are also eyeing the operations of MRT-3 along EDSA.The two groups have submitted separate unsolicited proposals, but Pangilinan said that now that the government may push through with bidding the MRT operations out instead of through unsolicited proposals, similar to the NAIA rehabilitation project. There is a possibility that the two groups will submit a joint bid, but Pangilinan was quick to clarify there are no formal talks yet.Pangilinan is also eyeing to buy the shares of the Ayala group which plans to divest its shares in operating LRT 1.He said owning more shares of LRT will give them the experience and the advantage when it comes to bidding for MRT operations.Pangilinan added that he was not interested in bidding for the operations of the Metro Manila subway saying he is unfamiliar with subway operations.However, he is still looking to invest in other infrastructure projects of the government.<div> </div>

Metro Pacific Investments Corporation Chairman Manny Pangilinan is forging stronger ties with former rival San Miguel Corporation President and CEO Ramon Ang.