NEDA approves restructuring of P13.5-billion projects

MANILA, Philippines — The Investment Coordination Committee - Cabinet Committee (ICC-CabCom) of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has approved P13.5 billion worth of improvements to three regional projects.

Changes in scope and cost were cleared for the Davao City Bypass Construction Project, Panguil Bay Bridge Project, and Flood Risk Management Project in Cagayan River, Tagoloan River, and Imus River during the ICC-Cabcom meeting on July 27, NEDA said yesterday.

For the Davao bypass road, the scope of the project was changed from a two-lane road and main tunnel, two-stage implementation scheme, to a four-lane road and main tunnel, single-stage implementation scheme. The change in cost from P16.8 billion to P 25.8 billion covers the changes in scope, foreign exchange rate, cost of civil works, and consulting services.

For the Panguil Bay Bridge, the change in scope covers the following: total length of the main bridge, approach bridges, and approach roads from 3,476 meters to 3,772.54 meters; width of main bridge from 14.5 to 15.5 meters, pile length from 33-44 meters to 65-90 meters; borehole diameter from 1.5 meters to 2.5 meters, inclusion of appropriate seismic design to ensure structural safety of the bridge; and additional temporary facilities for construction such as docking lot, casting site, crane ways, and ancillary facilities for the bridge.

The change in cost from P4.9 billion to P 7.4 billion covers the actual expenses for right-of-way acquisition carried out by the Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte District engineering offices, excluding service charge.

For the flood management project, the total project cost was raised from P5.6 billion to P7.5 billion. The cost increase is due to inclusion of new work items, and increases in costs of land acquisition, construction materials, consultancy services, and administration.

The projects are expected to boost the economies of Regions 11, 2, and Calabarzon which posted Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) growth rates last year of 10.9 percent, 7.2 percent, 6.7 percent, respectively. These are higher than the National Capital Region’s 6.1 percent.

  The said regions aim to achieve GRDP growth rates of 10.5 to 11.5 (Region 11), 6.5 to 7.5 (Region 2), and 6.0 to 7.3 (CALABARZON) by 2022.

“The ICC and the whole of government is steadfast in sustaining these regions’ growth momentum. These improvements in the projects reflect this commitment,” said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, co-chair of the ICC.

Pernia said the regional projects provide interconnectivity and facilitate exchange of goods and services, besides people. The Panguil Bay Bridge Project specifically would boost growth in Regions 9, 10, and 12.

The ICC also urged the Department of Transportation to fast-track the implementation of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT), which forms part of the Metro Cebu Intermodal and Integrated Transport System (MCIITS), to achieve interoperability by June 2021.

The MCIITS, which would include the CBRT, a skytrain project, intelligent transport systems, light rail transit, and a greenways project, among others, encompasses the package of solutions to address congestion and transport problems in Metro Cebu.