10 proposed projects up for Neda Board approval
TEN projects are now set for approval by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Board after being recommended by an inter-agency Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CabCom) headed by President Rodrigo Duterte.
“These recommended projects are a good start towards the government’s goal of improving government investments in infrastructure, especially in transportation and health, and agribusiness,” said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia.
The projects include the following:
1) North-South Railway Project – South Line
2) Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project for the Philippine Coast Guard Phase II
3) Metro Manila Bus Rapid Transit- EDSA
4) Plaridel Bypass Toll Road Project
5) Metro Manila Flood Management Project,
6) Increase in Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) Area of the Bicol International Airport Project
7) Change in Scope of the New Bohol Airport Construction and Sustainable Environment Protection Project
8) Modernization of the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center
9) Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital
10) Inclusive Partnerships for Agricultural Competitiveness.
The North-South Railway Project – South Line of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), is set to be undertaken through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in two separate projects: The Commuter Line, from Tutuban to Los Baños, and the Long Haul Line, from Los Baños to Sorsogon with a branch from Calamba to Batangas City. The project has a 34-year concession period (including construction of 4 years) for the Commuter Line. The Long Haul Line’s concession period is based on the payment timeline prescribed under the repayment scheme. DOTr will resubmit the project under the proposed standard gauge rail system.
Moreover, Phase II of the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will acquire two 92-meter heavy weather, high endurance Multi-Role Response Vessels or MRVs. The project will strengthen PCG’s coast or watch patrol and search and rescue capabilities and help them comply with international commitments on maritime safety and security, and marine environmental protection. The total project cost is estimated at P8.02 billion with an implementation period of 2016-2021.
For the Metro Manila Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) - EDSA, a BRT infrastructure of 48.6 kilometers through EDSA, Ayala Avenue, Ortigas-BGC, and NAIA will be built with 63 stations. Also, it will add accessibility infrastructure like greenways, pedestrian walkways, and bikeways. The total project cost is estimated at P68.26 billion, of which public sector component cost is P37.76 billion, with an implementation schedule of 2017-2019.
The Plaridel Bypass Toll Road Project, meanwhile, involves the conversion of existing 2-lane Plaridel Bypass Road into a 4-lane toll road with expressway standards. The new 4-lane toll roads will improve the road capacity and save travel time of about 80 minutes per vehicle. The total project cost is estimated at P9.33 billion with a concession period of 30 years including three years of construction.
The Metro Manila Flood Management Project (MMFP) Phase I aims to reduce flood risk to people and property in the flood-prone areas of Greater Metropolitan Manila through an integrated set of interventions. Total project cost of MMFP is estimated at P23.5 billion.
Two ongoing airport projects of DOTr will also be elevated to the NEDA Board for confirmation of the proposed changes: (i) increase in Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) Area of the Bicol International Airport Project, and (ii) change in scope of the New Bohol Airport Construction and Sustainable Environment Protection Project.
The Bicol International Airport Project involves construction of a new domestic-Principal Class 1 airport of international standards in Daraga, Albay to replace the existing Legazpi Airport due to its limitations and safety concerns. The proposed changes does entail additional cost, thereby maintaining project cost at P4.79 billion. On the other hand, the New Bohol Airport Construction and Sustainable Environment Protection Project aims to develop a new airport facility of international standards in Panglao Island, Bohol to replace the existing Tagbilaran Airport due to its limited capacity for expansion and operational safety concerns. The revised project cost is P7.77 billion.
First of the two hospitals endorsed is the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center Modernization Project, which seeks to expand the hospital’s bed capacity from 325 to 500, transfer to a new site in Tacloban City, and establish a new IT system and medical equipment. The hospital project cost is estimated at P2.40 billion with an implementation period of 30 months upon approval.
The Modernization of Gov. Celestrino Gallares Memorial Hospital Project will expand the hospital’s 225-bed capacity to 500 and transfer to a new site in Cortez, Bohol. It will also include site development, warehouse building, medical equipment, and IT systems. Project cost of the Bohol hospital is estimated at P2.22 billion with two years of implementation, including design, procurement of works and construction.
Inclusive Partnerships for Agricultural Competitiveness (IPAC) project aims enhance market access and competitiveness of smallholder farmers in the target agrarian reform communities (ARC) clusters. IPAC has a total project cost of P10.15 billion.
The ICC-CabCom agreed to meet every fourth Monday of the month. (SDR/Sunnex)