Batangas City — January 3, 2024 | 10:15 AM
The morning sun was already high above the Southern Luzon skyline as Matthew Borja stepped out of the SUV, flanked by local contractors, safety officers, and Angel. The air smelled faintly of salt and cement dust—Batangas' coastal winds brushing past the massive concrete pillars now forming the southernmost edge of Phase One of the Astra Expressway.
Wearing a crisp white hard hat and reflective vest, Matthew surveyed the site. The segment stretching from Nasugbu to the Batangas port was critical. Not just for passenger travel—but for logistics. If completed on time, it would unlock a vital artery for regional commerce, dramatically shortening cargo routes between Metro Manila and CALABARZON's deep-sea ports.
