Tuesday, April 03, 2007 DBP prepares projects for infra, education, environment, SMEs
THE Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has outlined multi-billion-peso projects to help develop infrastructure, logistics, social services, environment and the micro and small medium enterprises (MSMEs).
“We are actively looking for possible partnership prospects because we are excited about the economic developments of the country,” DBP president and chief executive officer Reynaldo David said.
In the environment sector, DBP has 153 approved projects totaling P17 billion, 32 approved projects amounting to P1.9 billion for the health sector, 10 approved projects worth P721 million in the housing sector, 212 approved projects amounting to P12 billion in the infrastructure sector and 4,600 approved projects worth P11.8 billion in the MSME sector, among others.
Waiting
“When we say approved, it means we are waiting for documentations to be done,” David noted.
Earlier, David said the bank has mulled 20 missionary routes to open this year to complete the 49 roll-on roll-off (ro-ro) connections under President Arroyo’s “Strong Nautical Highway Project.”
Routes
Among these are four ro-ro routes in Cebu, including Liloan, Cebu to Jetafe, Bohol; Dumanjug, Cebu to Gui-hulngan, Oriental Negros; Santander, Cebu to Sibulan, Oriental Negros; and San-tander, Cebu to Larena, Siquijor.
He said additional “horizontal” nautical highways will not only increase revenues of domestic shipping industries, improve the movement of storage and goods among provinces, and modernize port areas but will be a boost to the country’s tourism industry in the long run.
In the environment sector, DBP is actively involved in water treatment and power projects, and is also looking for new and alternative fuel sources.
“We are evaluating 39 more forest projects this year,” David told Sun.Star Cebu.
Reforested
DBP Forest, which was launched in April 2005 has established 25 sites, reforested some 6,000 hectares, including four forest areas in Guimaras, Iloilo and Northern Samar.
In the social service sector, which also includes education, he said the bank is willing to finance schools geared towards generating more employment for Filipinos.
Meanwhile, for the MSME sector, David said about 376 projects worth P5.3 million are in the pipeline to assist Cebu’s growing industry.
In the national level, DBP has outlined 13,271 projects worth P76 million.
David added that the bank will establish 12 business assistance centers, which will serve as a “one-stop-shop” to respond to the needs of the MSMEs, which contribute to 95 percent of the business enterprise in the country.
Stakeholders
To help materialize DBP’s plans to improve the country’s economic landscape, David said he is urging interested stakeholders to service the financing needs.
He said DBP is “willing to go and stretch out,” as it recognizes the need of the business community for a long-term money market.
DBP is a government-owned bank with 77 branches nationwide. It is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. (MMM)
