Rail expansion tops list of private-public projects

MANILA, Philippines - The government has released the list of the top 10 Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects with a combined worth of more than P127.78 billion.

The list of PPP projects ready for investment in 2011 was presented to businessmen during a meeting in Malacañang last week. Of the 10 projects, three did not have project costs yet.

The infrastructure projects focused mainly on the improvement of the rail system, roads and airports.

At least two business groups – the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) – have expressed interest in investing in the projects.

The biggest project is for the expansion of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and the Light Rail Transit (LRT), which has a projected cost of P70 billion.

This is followed by the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) Link, which has a projected cost of P21 billion.

The MRT Line 2 has an estimated cost of P11.3 billion while the CALA Expressway has an estimated cost of P10.5 billion.

The other projects listed in the PPP include the improvement of Panglao airport worth P7.5 billion, the Puerto Princesa airport worth P4.36 billion and the Daraga international airport at P3 billion.

The projects that were listed but have no costs yet include the development of a city terminal for the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA), the privatization of the Laguindingan Airport Operation and Maintenance and the supply of treated bulk water for Metro Manila.

The biggest project – the MRT-LRT expansion – aims to integrate and expand the capacity of existing MRT 3 and LRTA railway lines.

It involves the extension of the existing 15-kilometer LRTA Line 1 system to Bacoor, Cavite by an additional 11.7 km. This also includes eight passenger stations with provision for two additional stations.

The MRT Line 2 involves the construction of a four-kilometer eastern extension of MRT Line 2 from Santolan in Pasig to Masinag Junction in Antipolo.

The project aims to expand the existing LRTA rail transport services of MRT Line 2 for the benefit of passengers coming from Marikina, Cainta and Antipolo, Rizal.

The Panglao airport, on the other hand, involves the construction of a new airport to conform to international standards.

The Puerto Princesa airport will also be rehabilitated in order to meet the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). This will be done through the construction of a passenger terminal building, control tower, cargo terminal and other landside facilities.

The third airport project is the privatization of Laguindingan airport.

The PPP also lists the development of a city terminal in order to service another airport the DMIA in order to reduce cargo loading time.

The NLEX-SLEX Link will close the gap and complete the North-South Luzon industrial beltway transport axis by connecting the two expressways. This will help decongest Metro Manila traffic, particularly EDSA. The project will start in Caloocan City and end in Makati City.

The CALA Expressway, meanwhile, will provide vital access between various economic zones in Cavite and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Metro Manila ports and the Batangas port. This is the extension of the on-going Manila-Cavite Coastal Expressway Extension. It will end in Silang, Cavite.

Lastly, the supply of treated bulk water will supplement the long-term water supply requirements in Metro Manila.