'71 ONGOING PROJECTS'

Many infra projects are meant to address perennial flooding —Balisacan

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said Wednesday that most of the government's ongoing infrastructure projects are meant to address flood problems in the country.

This as Balisacan disclosed at a Palace press briefing that there are 71 ongoing infrastructure projects worth P4.11 trillion as of July 2023.

He was then asked for comment on the recent widespread floods that are being blamed on infrastructure projects.

"Many of these projects are actually... are meant to address the perennial flooding issues. If we go in the list of IFPs, many of these are related to water management and related projects... infrastructure projects that address flooding and access to reliable water supply," Balisacan said.

To recall, a total of 194 infrastructure flagship projects have been approved by the NEDA Board, which is headed by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

The majority of those projects involve physical connectivity and water resources, including projects in irrigation, water supply, and flood management, according to the NEDA.

Among the remaining 123 IFPs, Balisacan said that 27 have been approved for implementation, eight are awaiting government approval, 52 are in the project preparation phase, while 36 are still under the pre-project preparation phase as of July 2023.

Meanwhile, Balisacan said that the NEDA Board also approved the inclusion of three more projects under the list of the IFPs. These include the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway or TPLEX Extension Project, the Philippine Rural Development Project Scale Up, and the Upgrade Expansion, Operation, and Maintenance of the Laguindingan International Airport Project in Misamis Oriental.  

Balisacan noted that with their inclusion in the list, "these projects will be prioritized in the government’s annual budget preparation and will benefit from the expedited issuance of applicable permits and licenses, in accordance with
current legal frameworks."

"This is a significant contribution to the timely implementation of these projects and fully realizing their economic returns as this will help the government avoid the possibility of increasing costs and financing charges due to delay," Balisacan said.

The NEDA chief said that the Marcos Administration continues to aim "to get the job done."

"We will enhance connectivity, reduce the cost of doing business, promote the
creation of high-quality jobs, and ultimately reduce poverty sustainably to improve the lives of every Filipino," Balisacan said. —VAL, GMA Integrated News