DOTC reveals transport projects to be completed before Aquino term ends

The list of transportation projects that are in the pipeline for the next two years were revealed on Tuesday during the Philippine Economic Briefing.

According to Secretary Joseph Emilio "Jun" Abaya, the 33 projects listed on the Philippine Economic Briefing journal were targeted for completion before President Benigno Aquino III's term expires in 2016.

"Tingin ko, kaya naming ma-bid out lahat 'yan," Abaya said.

Some projects on the list were ongoing, including the P17.52 billion Mactan-Cebu International Airport renovation, and P1.72 Billion Automatic Fare Collection System that merges the ticketing operations of Metro Manila's train systems.,

Bidding procedures were ongoing, meanwhile, on the P9.7 billion LRT Line-2 Masinag Extension project, the P2.5 billion Integrated Transport System (ITS) Southwest Terminal, and the P4 billion ITS South Terminal.

Abaya also revealed that eight major airport (including the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the Clark International Airport) operations and maintenance components will be bid out to the private sector.

The Transportation Secretary also disclosed that the projects in the agency's pipeline that were ongoing pre-investment studies were:

• the P320 billion North and South Rails,
• the Mass Transit System Loop,
• the LRT Line-1 Dasmariñas Extension,
• the Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake Ferry Service, and
• the C-5 Transport Development.

Meanwhile, these project were awaiting NEDA approval:

• Davao-Sasa Port,
• Motor Vehicle Inspection System, and
• Manila Bus Rapid Transit.

The Bicol International Airport, Busuanga Airport, and Cebu Bus Rapid Transit projects are still in the engineering design stage, DOTC said.

The night-rating projects in Tuguegarao, Roxas, Dumaguete, Ozamiz, Cotabato and Butuan airports are also up for implementation, while the LRT Line 1 Cavite extension project had been awarded last September 12.

The DOTC said that the procurement of transaction advisors was ongoing on these projects: Central Spine Roll/On-Roll/Off (RORO), Manila East-Mass Transport System, and the Road Transport IT Infrastructure Project - Phase II.

The MRT Line-7 that will traverse North Edsa, Commonwealth, Fairview and San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan is "for financial close," the DOTC added.

Meanwhile, Abaya said that some P2 billion will be appropriated for the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 next year.

"MRT-3 needs more focus so we are looking for around P2 billion in 2015 for project implementation," he said.

The MRT-3 has become infamous for glitches in its operations, with the worst incident being a train overshooting a security barrier, injuring 30 people. — DVM, GMA News