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Saturday, July 1, 2017
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MANILA – The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board approved 11 new projects costing P305.64 billion, including the P211.43-billion Malolos-Clark Railway Project.
The railway project of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) involves the construction of a commuter line and airport express railway between Malolos and Clark Green City (CGC) through Clark International Airport (CRK).
The project will facilitate seamless movement of people, goods and services and help reduce traffic congestion in Metro Manila.
It will be implemented through official development assistance (ODA) financing.
The NEDA Board, chaired by President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte, also gave the green light to the P35.26-billion Mindanao Railway Project (MRP) Phase 1 Tagum-Davao-Digos Segment; P9.89-billion Cavite Industrial Area Flood Risk Management Project; the P12.55-billion Clark International Airport (CIA) Expansion Project; and P3.47-billion Education Pathways to Peace in Conflict-Affected Areas of Mindanao (PATHWAYS).
It also approved the P1.19-billion Australia Awards and Alumni Engagement Program; the P10.87-billion New Communications, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management Systems Development Project; the P2.8-billion New Configuration of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 North Extension Project;
The P4.62-billion change in scope, cost and financing arrangements for the Arterial Road Bypass Project Phase II; the P10.86-billion change in financing of the New Centennial Water Source–Kaliwa Dam Project; and the P2.7-billion project approval and change in financing of Chico River Pump Irrigation Project.
“This administration is serious, is resolute to address the country’s huge backlog in physical and human infrastructure. We will see to it that these plans will come through and will not be shelved as in the past,” said NEDA Director General Ernesto Pernia in a forum in Makati.
Further, the NEDA Board adopted a National Transport Policy (NTP) that aimed at unifying all transport-related projects in the country.
In particular, the policy will synchronize decisions and investments of all transport-related agencies and better coordinate such efforts between the national and local levels.
The NTP envisions a national transport system that is “safe, secure, reliable, efficient, integrated, intermodal, affordable, cost-effective, environmentally sustainable and people-oriented.”
Pernia said the Duterte administration aimed to translate the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017–2022 into actual programs that would benefit Filipinos, considering traffic especially in urban areas.
“The government assures the people that the problem of congestion on the roads is still being prioritized. The NTP is a priority strategy reflected in the PDP as we seek to provide accessible social services through better connectivity,” he added.
The implementing rules and regulations of the NTP have yet to be formulated.
Meanwhile, Pernia bared that three big-ticket infrastructure projects were expected to be deliberated by the NEDA Board during its next meeting in July.
The NEDA chief identified these projects as the first phase of the Mega Manila Subway Project costing USD 4.4 billion; the P151-billion PNR Long-Haul railway operations from Calamba, Laguna to Bicol; and the modernization of the Davao Sasa Port.
“The FS (feasibility study) for the subway is still being completed but that is a sure thing already,” Pernia told reporters on the sidelines of the Hitachi Social Innovation Forum.
He added the subway’s feasibility study was expected to be completed in July. (PNA)
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