Philippines approves worth P548-billion infra projects
By Ai Ballesteros
Eight infrastructure projects amounting to P548 billion ($10.75 billion) have hurdled the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in the Philippines.
In a statement, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia identified two of the projects as the Metro Rail Transit (MRT)-4, the Epifanio Delos Santos Ave. (EDSA) Greenways Project, alongside six others.
Ernesto Pernia | PHOTO COURTESY: FLICKR
The MRT-4 project includes the construction of a 15.56-kilometer elevated monorail transit system traversing N. Domingo in Quezon City to Taytay Diversion Road-Manila East Road rotunda in Taytay, Rizal.
Meanwhile, the EDSA Greenway Project involves the enhancement of pedestrian facilities around key rail stations along EDSA, particularly Balintawak, Guadalupe, Cubao, and Taft for the first phase of the project. It is expected to provide all-day safe, secure, efficient, and environment friendly mobility in public spaces.
Pernia said the Greenway Project is in line with the National Transport Policy that gives priority to transportation projects that will provide pedestrians and bikers safe and direct access to priority destinations such as housing, education, health, and business centers as well as transport modes.
“These projects are the building blocks of our people’s dreams and aspirations. As such, we intend to roll out as many as we can to ease congestion and spread growth throughout the country,” Pernia said.
Likewise approved were projects namely the Maritime Safety Enhancement Program by the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge Project, Cebu-Mactan Bridge (4th Bridge), the Coastal Road Construction Project, the Davao City Coastal Bypass Road Project, the Capas-Botolan Road Project, and the Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Island Bridges Project by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The NEDA Board also approved the Change in Scope and Cost of the Davao City Bypass Construction Project; and the Extensions in Loan Validity and Implementation Period and Increase in Cost of the Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project.
Source: Asean Economist