NEDA approves P62.3-B infrastructure projects

MANILA, Philippines - The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) board has approved nine major infrastructure projects, as well as the operation and maintenance of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program and the master development plan for the Clark Green City.

The value of the approved infrastructure projects reached P62.3 billion.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma  Jr. said the projects were approved by the NEDA board on Thursday in a meeting that began at 1 p.m. and ended at almost midnight. The NEDA board is chaired by President Aquino.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the approved projects are aimed at improving the level and standard of service in the water, health and transport sectors, which is part of the updated Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016 towards achieving inclusive growth.

“These projects will greatly help facilitate and fast-track the needed infrastructure support of the economy. These are vital in ensuring interconnectedness within the Philippine archipelago for ease of trade movement of goods and people, promotion of tourism and improvement of competitiveness,” Balisacan said.

The LRT Line 2 operation and maintenance project costing P14.34 billion involves a concession contract for the existing line 2 system and possible expansion of the existing line including, but not limited to, any extension to be constructed by the government such as the Masinag extension.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is the main project proponent.

On the other hand, the master development plan for the Clark Green City includes the development of 9,450 hectares of land, including the bidding for an initial 1,300 hectares for Phase 1. The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is main proponent.

The project would cover the municipalities of Capas and Bamban in Tarlac province.

Initially approved was the disposition of 1,300 hectares, constituting phase one of the project containing institutional, mixed-use and industrial development starting 2014.

The recent groundbreaking of the proposed University of the Philippines campus in Clark is part of this initial implementation phase, Coloma said.

Coloma explained some of the projects would be completed beyond the term of President Aquino but “we are determined to speed up the implementation of these vital projects” given the fact that by the end of this month, this administration would have only two years left of its term.

The infrastructure projects include the P1.19-billion Laoag City Bypass Link Road Project, involving the construction of a 3.11-kilometer road, including a 735-lineal meter steel girder type bridge that crosses the Laoag-Padsan River and end at the Gomburza Road intersection (Phase 1) and the construction of a 4.87-kilometer road (Phase 2). Main proponent is the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The P4.1-billion Busuanga Airport Development Project will serve the expected increase in air traffic in northern Palawan, through the improvement of the existing airport facilities. The DOTC is main project proponent.

Another project is the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit costing P10.62 billion under the DOTC.

The project will be financed through loans from the Agence Francaise de Development and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development-World Bank through its clean technology fund.

Another project is the P2-billion modernization program for the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital under the Department of Health (DOH).

The NEDA board approved the project to upgrade the existing 447-bed capacity to a modern 800-bed hospital. The project will be funded by the DOH from general appropriations.

The P2.69-billion Water District Development Sector Project, under the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), is aimed at targeting pre-credit worthy to semi-credit worthy water districts for the rehabilitation and expansion of their distribution networks, development of raw water supply, and enhancement of the sustainability of operations through capacity development.

The NEDA board approved the development of local water districts through the implementation of LWUA’s initiative and a $60-million (P2.7 billion) Asian Development Bank (ADB) loan facility.

Three pilot projects will jumpstart the expected upgrading of facilities and services of some 60 local water districts nationwide. These will be implemented in Koronadal City and in the metropolitan San Fernando City-Pampanga area and 15 water districts in Bulacan.

The P5.78-billion Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) involves the construction of a new tunnel that will make it possible to alternately close the older tunnels and aqueducts in the conveyance system, to improve the reliability and security of the Angat raw water transmission system, through the rehabilitation of existing conveyances and appurtenances from Ipo Dam to La Mesa treatment plant.

The Angat Dam water transmission project will be financed through a $60-million ADB loan and aims to improve the reliability and security of the Angat raw water transmission system.

Another approved project is the National Irrigation Administration (NIA)’s Malinao Dam improvement project in Bohol that will double the impounding capacity of the existing dam for irrigation needs of the underserved areas of the Bohol Integrated Irrigation System. Estimated project cost is P653 million.

The P18.72-billion New Centennial Water Source Kaliwa Dam Project, also under the MWSS, involves financing, design and construction of the 600 million liters per day Kaliwa Dam, and Water Conveyance Tunnel with a capacity of 2,400 million liters per day, in anticipation of future construction of the Laiban Dam. Construction of water treatment plants will be undertaken by the MWSS concessionaires.

The project will cover portions of the municipalities of Tanay, Antipolo and Teresa in Rizal province and the towns of General Nakar and Infanta in Quezon province.

The project will be implemented through the PPP, under variants of the build-lease-and-transfer scheme.