Astra HQ, Subic — December 21, 2023 | 9:00 AM
Inside a glass-walled meeting room overlooking the Subic coastline, Matthew Borja stood in front of a digital presentation board displaying the Astra Expressway blueprint. Engineers, project leads, and representatives from local contractor firms sat at the long table, reviewing updated logistics, material flow charts, and early-stage risk assessments. The entire room buzzed with that familiar energy—a mix of cautious optimism and iron-willed urgency.
Matthew pointed toward the center of the displayed map. "This leg here—from Angeles to Tagaytay—is our linchpin. It threads through major choke points and connects to key provincial hubs. If we can execute this stretch on schedule, we set the tone for the rest of the build."
A project engineer raised his hand. "Sir, DPWH just released updated seismic guidelines for Central Luzon. It'll require minor recalibrations to some foundational structures."
