MRT-4, 11 other projects up for NEDA Board approval

Twelve infrastructure projects, including the Metro Rail Transit Line 4 (MRT4), with a cumulative worth of at least P557.44 billion, are now up for approval of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board.

In a statement on Thursday, NEDA said the Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CabCom) on December 20 approved three new projects under the Department of Transportation (DOTr); seven under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH); and two under the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

Department of Transportation:

MRT4 Project (P49.84 billion - Official Development Assistance)

The 15.56-kilometer elevated monorail transit system will start at the proposed N. Domingo Station new Granada Street in Quezon City and end at the proposed Taytay Diversion Road - Manila East Road in Rizal.

It will run along Ortigas Avenue, Ortigas Avenue Extension, and Taytay Diversion Road, save for a segment between the proposed Meralco and Rosario stations.

EDSA Greenways Project (P8.51 billion - ODA) 

The project aims to enhance pedestrian facilities in key rail stations along EDSA, including the construction of elevated walkways to and from such stations.

The first phase of the project covers new footbridges in the Balintawak, Cubao, Guadalupe, and Taft stations with a total footbridge network of 5.0 kilometers, including 0.9 kilometers of replacements of existing footbridges.

Maritime Safety Enhancement Program (P6.25 billion - ODA)

The project involves the construction of two buoy bases, the acquisition of two buoy tenders, the production and maintenance of Aids to Navigation (AtoN), and the repair of equipment and materials and consulting services.

It seeks to maintain a stable supply of AtoN that will comply with international standards, and will reinforce the capacity of government personnel for sustainable maritime transportation safety.

Department of Public Works and Highways:

Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge (BCIB) Project (P175.7 billion - ODA)

Construction of a 32.15-kilometer, four-lane bridge connecting Barangay Alas-asin in Mariveles, Bataan to Barangay Timalan in Naic, Cavite via the Manila Bay.

It involves the construction of two navigation bridges, interchanges, land viaducts, turnaround facilities, special span bridge near Cavite coast, a toll plaza and administration building, and the improvement of local existing junctions.

Cebu-Mactan Bridge (4th Bridge) and Coastal Road Construction Project (New Mactan Bridge Construction Project) (P76.41 billion - ODA)

Construction of a 3.3-kilometer bridge with an elevated viaduct of 3.385 kilometers, with two lanes in each direction; and a 4.9-kilometer, four-lane coastal road with a 4.751-kilometer elevate viaduct.

Interchanges will be constructed at the linkage between the two projects in Mandaue City.

Davao City Coastal Bypass Road with Bucana Bridge Project (P28.26 billion - GAA/ODA)

Construction of an 18.21-kilometer road with four lanes from Bago Aplaya to R. Castillo, serving as an alternate route to the Davao-Cotabato Road and ABS-CBN Diversion Road.

It will be composed of four segments: Bago Aplaya-Times Beach; Times Beach-Roxas Avenue; Roxas Avenue - Sta. Ana Wharf; and Sta. Ana Wharf - R. Castillo.

Capas-Botolan Road Project (P5.89 billion - ODA)

Construction of a 35.64-kilometer road, including eight bridges, with a cumulative length of 1,612.82 linear meters between Capas and Botolan.

The project will directly link the provinces of Tarlac and Zambales, and reduce travel time to about 82 minutes from an estimated four hours using the Pangasinan route in the north.

The project will be implemented from 2020 to 2024, and is scheduled to be operational starting 2025.

Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Island Bridges Project (P189.53 billion - ODA)

Construction of a 32.47-kilometer, four-lane, two sea-crossing bridges, including connecting roads and interchanges connecting Panay, Guimaras, and Negros.

The project intends to provide a more convenient transportation linkage between the islands through a connected land passageway, allowing the flow of people, goods, and services.

Davao City Bypass Construction Project (DCBCP) second change in Scope and Cost and Supplemental Loan

The revised project cost has been increased by 65.73% or P16.99 billion after the proposed project was made to be 300 meters longer under the detailed engineering design (DED).

Samar-Pacific Coastal Road Project – Loan Validity and Implementation Extension and Increase in Cost (PhP2.45 billion)

The ICC-CabCom approved the 9% increase in total project cost to P1.13 billion from P1.03 billion.

It also approved the 24-month loan validity extension from January 18, 2020 to January 17, 2022 of the Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project (SPCRP), including the 18-month implementation period extension of the project from January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021.

The project involves the construction of 11.30 kilometers of the unpaved section of the Samar Pacific Coastal Road, including the construction of three bridges with a total length of 261 linear meters.

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines:

Davao International Airport

Chelse Logistics Holdings Corp. has secured the original proponent status to develop and maintain the airport.

Laguindingan Airport (P42.7 billion)

Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. (AIC), the infrastructure business unit of the Aboitiz Group, bagged the original proponent status (OPS) for its unsolicited proposal to take over the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental.

"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," said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia.

"These are in line with the National Spatial Strategy to make cities like Metro Manila efficient and to improve connectivity between areas," he added. —NB, GMA News