NEWS

By Cai Ordinario

The national government is keen on completing the evaluation and approval of all its listed infrastructure flagship projects (IFPs) by the end of the Duterte administration, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

At the sidelines of an Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (Ejap) Forum on Tuesday, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia told reporters that the evaluation and approval of all flagship projects would ensure implementation by the next administration.

Pernia said this will give the next administration a set of “shovel ready” projects similar to what the Duterte administration received from the Aquino administration in 2016.

“We will try to complete them in terms of getting them through the Neda Board for approval. We’ll try to complete all of that by just processing evaluation and approval so that, like when we came in, there were also some projects that were shovel ready,” Pernia said.

Pernia also said the government is not worried that while there are only nine flagship projects that are being constructed, there are other game changing projects that are being implemented nationwide.

He added that the Duterte administration will also leave behind functional game-changing infrastructure projects such as the North Luzon and South Luzon Expressway connection, Skyway Stage 3, and the Mega Manila Subway.

However, IFPs that are up for delisting or reevaluation can easily be replaced to complete the 75 flagship projects of the Duterte administration.

“We’re thinking of rearranging our 75 to include other projects,” Pernia said. “There are still so many in the list that are hard to get through [so we have to make adjustments]. I think there are about seven that need to be reevaluated, reviewed so we can replace them.”

Earlier, Neda documents stated the Investment Coordination Committee will reevaluate and review a dozen big-ticket projects due to changes in cost and “pending concerns.”

These 12 projects include seven that will be reevaluated for changes in scope and cost, and five that are up for review due to pending concerns.

The 12 projects cost a total of P465.53 billion. The seven projects for reevaluation amount to P381.24 billion, while the five projects for review cost P84.29 billion.

Neda documents also stated that the Duterte administration will also complete less than a third of the infrastructure flagship projects by the end of the President’s term.

Data showed only 21 projects will be completed by 2022. This is fewer than the Neda’s April estimate of 25 projects.

The 21 projects that are expected to be completed by 2022 cost P187.628 billion. The remaining 54 projects costing P2.23 trillion will be completed beyond 2022.

Source: Business Mirror