BCDA draws up P70-B monorail plan

MANILA, Philippines - The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has placed the initial cost of a proposed monorail project that will connect Metro Manila districts at P70 billion.

“The initial cost of the project is P70 billion based on the completed pre-feasibility study,”Arnel Paciano Casanova, BCDA president and chief executive officer said in a telephone interview.

“That (amount) could still go down because that is only taking into account the potential users,” he said.

The monorail system will connect the Metro Rail Transit through the Guadalupe station to Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig City and Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Given the high commuter density in the metropolis, the monorail system is seen to be the most viable way to transport people in and out of BGC to other parts of Metro Manila.

Casanova said the completed pre-feasibility study for the project would be presented to the Ministry of Economy, Transportation and Industry (METI) of Japan and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) next month.

The pre-feasibility study was funded by the Japanese government through the METI.

Casanova said the government is hopeful the METI will also extend assistance for the conduct of the feasibility study of the project.

“We are requesting funding for the feasibility study,” he said.

The BCDA intends to pursue the project through a public-private partnership.

Earlier, the BCDA said it intends to complete the project by 2016.

Apart from the monorail system, Casanova said the BCDA is also looking at other infrastructure projects that can be undertaken in Clark Pampanga.