NEDA okays 2 infrastructure projects

MANILA, Philippines - The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) approved yesterday two new infrastructure projects worth P6 billion as part of efforts to pump-prime the economy in the wake of the global financial crisis.

NEDA approved the P2.5-billion Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project, intended to link the towns in Samar Island. The road aims to enhance the development of potential agricultural lands and fishing grounds of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar provinces as well as facilitate the movement of goods and services in the area, NEDA said.

Specifically, the project involves the improvement of the 108.4-kilometer road that traverses the pacific coastal towns of Laoang, Palapag, Mapanas, Gamay, and Lapinig in Northern Samar and Arteche and San Policarpo in Eastern Samar.

The project would be funded locally (P900 million) and through foreign funds. The government would source the foreign cost component amounting to P1.6 billion from the Export-Import Bank of Korea.

The NEDA board also approved the P3.5-billion Puerto Princesa Airport Development Project.

According to the approved plan, the government would source P2.8 billion of the total cost of the project from the Export-Import Bank of Korea. The remaining P700 million will be the government’s counterpart funding.

NEDA said the project would improve the Puerto Princesa Airport by upgrading its facilities to meet the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

It includes the construction of a new passenger terminal complex and a new access road off the national highway.

The project also involves the widening of the runway strip, installation of an Instrument Landing System (ILS) and the establishment of new security fence. It also hopes to improve traffic control and communications.

Moreover, the NEDA Board approved the repair works for the LRT Line 1 Capacity Expansion Project. The LRT Line 1 was constructed in December 1984 and operated as the first light rail line in Asia.

The Line 1 Capacity Expansion Project implemented from 1994 to 1998 increased the passenger-carrying capacity by 50 percent to 27,000 from 18,000 passengers per peak hour per direction.

The second phase of the project implemented from 1999 to 2008 supported the operations of integrated LRT Lines 1, 2 and 3 networks. This increased passenger capacity by another 50 percent to 40,000 from 27,000 passengers per peak hour per direction.