THE National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CabCom) has recommended for Neda Board approval three major infrastructure projects in Davao City during a meeting on December 20.
This includes the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road with the Bucana Bridge Project; changes in scope and cost of the ongoing Davao City Bypass Construction Project; and unsolicited proposal for the Davao International Airport.
The Davao City Coastal Bypass Road with Bucana Bridge Project has an approved budget of P28.26 billion financed through the General Appropriations Act (GAA) and official development assistance (ODA). The project involves the construction of 18.21-kilometer road with four lanes facility, with a speed limit of 50 kph which starts from Bago Aplaya to R. Castillo.
The ongoing multi-billion coastal road project is composed of four segments: Bago Aplaya – Times Beach; Times Beach – Roxas Avenue; Roxas Avenue – Sta. Ana Wharf; and Sta. Ana Wharf – R. Castillo.
“The project aims to serve as an alternate route to the Davao-Cotabato Road and ABS-CBN Diversion Road to ease traffic congestion along busy intersections and the Central Business District. It is also intended to disperse urbanization outside the Davao City Urban Center,” Neda said in a statement yesterday.
Meanwhile, ICC-CabCom also approved the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) second change in scope and cost, the extension of the loan validity, and implementation period of the Davao City Bypass Construction Project. The project is assisted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).
According to Neda, the Davao City Bypass Construction Project “was initially approved by the Neda Board via ad referendum on May 28, 2015, underwent a change in scope and cost based on initial findings during its Detailed Engineering Design (DED). The first change in scope and cost of the project was also approved via ad referendum on October 20, 2018.”
“As to the change in scope, following the apportioning of Package I of the project into three (3) sub-packages, the DPWH proposed to divide Package II into three (3) sub-packages. The proposed project is 300 meters longer based on the findings of the DED for Package I and Package II,” Neda said.
The revised project scope now costs of P42.84 billion, which is 65.73 percent or P16.99 billion higher than the 2018 Neda Board-approved initial project cost.
“The objective of the Project is to improve accessibility to main infrastructure facilities and mitigating congestions in Davao City by constructing a bypass road and improving existing access roads, and thereby contribute to economic development and sound urban development of the City,” Jica said in its briefer on the project.
The ICC-CabCom also approved the Unsolicited Proposals for the Davao International Airport by Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp., which is owned by businessman Dennis Uy.
In a statement yesterday posted on their Facebook page, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade said the modernization of the Davao International Airport will spur economic activities not only in the Davao region but in the entire Mindanao.
“Modernization of the Davao International Airport will greatly boost both trade and tourism activities across Mindanao. This is in harmony with the Build, Build, Build thrust of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte,” said Secretary Tugade.
Tugades said the P48.9 billion operate-add-transfer project aims to boost passenger traffic at the airport by up to 15.1 million passengers per year.
“The project’s phase 1 period is calendared to start this year and is set to be completed by 2028. The project has a concession period of 30 years,” he added.
The transportation department said the unsolicited proposal covers reconfiguration and expansion of the terminal building, construction of parallel taxiway, improvement of airside and landside facilities, installation of modern airport IT systems, and all activities needed to improve airport services.
These Davao projects are part of 12 recommended projects amounting to P557.44 billion approved by the Neda ICC-CabCom excluding the amount for the unsolicited proposals. These projects will be subject for the final approval of the NEDA Board chaired by President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
“The approval of these projects is a pivotal step in fulfilling our thrust of fostering growth centers in the regions and expanding access to development opportunities throughout the country,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said.
In November last year, the committee has initially approved two other Davao City major projects which are the High Priority Bus System (HPBS) and the Davao-Samal Bridge.