CLARK FREEPORT -- The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Board on Friday, November 29, approved key infrastructure flagship projects (IFPs) seen to improve road network connectivity of the country’s main three islands of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) president Vince Dizon, who is also the presidential adviser for flagship programs and projects, said the projects include the land transport in Mindanao, such as the Davao Public Transport Bus Modernization Project and the Samal Island - Davao City Connector Project.
The Davao Public Transport Bus Modernization Project involves the delivery of a modern, high priority bus system (HPBS) for Davao City.
The Samal Island - Davao City Connector Project is expected to cut travel time from 26 to 30 minutes using Roro/ferry operations to just two to five minutes.
The Neda Board also approved the New Bohol (Panglao) International Airport and the rehabilitation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), both unsolicited proposals from the private sector; as well as major highways in Bicol Region, such as the Pasacao-Balatan Tourism Coastal Highway and the Camarines Sur Expressway.
The projects are part of the revised list of IFPs, which was also approved by the Neda Board Friday.
“The swift approval of the projects show how serious the government is in moving towards the realization of the Build Build Build program and allow our people - to use the words of the President - to ‘use use use’ them in order to live a more comfortable life,” Dizon said.
The 100 flagship projects out of the thousands of projects under the Build Build Build program have a total projected cost of P4.25 trillion. The list covers five categories, namely Transport and Mobility, Power, Water, Information and Communications Technology, and Urban Development and Renewal.
Dizon earlier committed that all 100 flagship projects will be started under the term of President Duterte.