Neda OKs P100-B infra projects

MANILA, Philippines - The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) board approved last night 11 projects worth more than P100 billion, including the Cavite-Laguna (CALA) Expressway, the North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway (NLEX-SLEX) Connector, and the acquisition of multi-role response vessels.

The three projects are worth P43 billion, P25.56 billion and P8.8 billion, respectively.

The NEDA board, chaired by President Aquino, held a meeting in Malacañang from 11 a.m. to past 6 p.m. to discuss 12 projects.

Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ricky Carandang said the amounts for the CALA Expressway and NLEX-SLEX Connector were approved conditionally or “in principle” pending final review of the costs.

“We want to do another verification of the costings. What you get are indicative costs. The President wants the numbers to be checked again to see if they can be lowered,’’ Carandang told reporters after the meeting.

He said the approval was significant because the projects could already “move forward.” 

The timeline for the CALA project is from 2012 to 2017 while the NLEX-SLEX Connector is 2013 to 2016.

The acquisition of the multi-role response vessels, to be done this year until 2016, was not approved in the last board meeting because of some specifications that had to be finalized.

The other approved projects were Albay West Coast Road (2014 to 2016), P1.14 billion; Tacloban Airport Redevelopment (2013 to 2016), P2.1 billion; Mactan, Cebu International Airport Terminal Phase 1 (2014 to 2016), P8.87 billion; Contactless Automatic Fare Collection System (2013 to 2014), P1.7 billion; Convergence on Chain Enhancement for Rural Growth and Empowerment (2013 to 2019).