State-owned construction company PT Wijaya Karya (Wika) signed a memorandum of understanding in Manila on Monday for the construction of the Taguig Express Way (MTEX), an elevated toll road project in Manila worth 43,75 million peso (US$830.41 million).

To handle the project, Wika will partner with PT Citra Marga Nusaphala Persada.

The MTEX is an 18.18-kilometer elevated toll road along the Pasig River that will connect Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 and Metro Manila Expressway to Pasig City, Makati and Manila.

Wika president director Tumiyana said the agreement with Citra would strengthen Wika’s portfolio abroad. “We welcome the signing of the agreement, because it will strengthen Wika’s presence abroad,” he said, as reported by kontan.co.id.

Beside the Taguig Expressway, Wika also started construction on Clarin Bridge in Bohol in the Philippines. The bridge is part of the Bohol Circumferential Road, which collapsed in 2013 because of a strong earthquake.

Wika operational director III, who is responsible for overseas projects, Destiawan Soewardjono, said the company had handled many overseas construction projects.

In the last two years, Wika, had expanded its business in a number of ASEAN countries, such as with the Limbang Cable Stay Bridge in Malaysia and the Maubin Pyapon Road Rehabilitation Project in Myanmar.

In Timor Leste, Wika had handled the construction of a 100-meter steel bridge in Soibada, the road restoration project JCT A09 Package 1 Municipio de Manatutu and the Natar Bora road packages 1 & 2 project. (bbn)