MANILA — Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the toll road subsidiary of tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan’s Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), has appointed former Philippine Airlines president Gilbert Gabriel Santa Maria as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective September 1, 2025.
Santa Maria, who guided PAL through a U.S. Chapter 11 restructuring during the pandemic, brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across aviation, telecommunications, and outsourcing. He is expected to stabilize MPTC’s management after a year of executive turnover while pushing forward expansion projects in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
The appointment marks MPTC’s third leadership shakeup in under a year. Pangilinan himself briefly served as interim chief, followed by longtime executive Jose Ma. Lim, who came out of retirement to steady the company. Earlier this year, Arrey Perez also held the role briefly before being reassigned. Lim will remain a director in MPTC, MPIC, and related firms.
MPTC is the Philippines’ largest toll road operator, managing key expressways and bridges including the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX), Cavite–Laguna Expressway (CALAX), Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), and the NLEX Connector Road. Beyond the country, the company has invested in toll road concessions in Indonesia and Vietnam, positioning itself as a regional infrastructure player.
Santa Maria takes over as MPTC advances a pipeline of major projects: completing CALAX, constructing the CAVITEX–CALAX Link, expanding the NLEX–SLEX Connector Road, upgrading CCLEX, and pursuing new tollway ventures in Hanoi and Jakarta. These initiatives aim to improve connectivity and reduce congestion while supporting economic growth.
MPTC also announced other leadership changes: Luis Reñon as President and General Manager of NLEX Corp., Andrew Pangilinan as President and General Manager of MPT South, and Marisa Conde as Officer-in-Charge and interim Chief Finance Officer.
Santa Maria rose to prominence as PAL president in 2019, where he led the flag carrier through the collapse in global air travel during COVID-19 and its subsequent restructuring to slash billions in debt. His crisis-management record is expected to help MPTC navigate leadership transition and deliver its infrastructure commitments on schedule.
MPTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of MPIC, which holds interests in power (Meralco), water (Maynilad), healthcare (Metro Pacific Hospitals), logistics, and transport. MPIC itself is part of First Pacific Co. Ltd., a Hong Kong-based conglomerate led by Pangilinan. In Indonesia, MPTC works with PT Indika Energy Tbk on tollway ventures.
“MPTC’s role is central to improving connectivity and supporting economic growth, not only in the Philippines but also across Southeast Asia,” Santa Maria said in remarks released by the company.
