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The NEDA Board approved seven big-ticket projects, including four that are transport-related
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The projects aim to significantly contribute to achieving the country’s social and economic transformation goal in the medium term
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The transport projects include the New Dumaguete Airport Development Project and changes to the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project
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Also included are the Metro Rail Transit-3 Rehabilitation Project and expanded use of the P2.12-billion Japan International Cooperation Agency loan balance for air traffic management system maintenance
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has approved seven big-ticket projects, including four that are transport-related.
The seven projects, “expected to significantly contribute to achieving our social and economic transformation goal in the medium term”, were green lit by the NEDA Board during its third meeting on February 2, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said in a statement.
Among those approved is the seven-year P17-billion New Dumaguete Airport Development Project of the Department of Transportation (DOTr). The project involves development of a new airport in Bacong, Negros Oriental that will replace the Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport, suffering from physical and operational constraints.
Official development assistance from South Korea through the Export-Import Bank of Korea-Economic Development Cooperation Fund will fund 76% or P13 billion of the project. The rest will be shouldered by the Philippine government through DOTr.
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DOTr’s request for changes in scope, increase in cost, and extension of implementation (from 2023 to 2029) for the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project was also approved by the NEDA Board. The project involves delivering a bus system for Metro Davao where interconnected bus services will be prioritized along 29 routes.
MRT-3 Rehabilitation Project
The Board likewise confirmed the proposed increase in the cost of the MRT-3 Rehabilitation Project by P7.6 billion from P21.9 billion to P29.6 billion. DOTr’s request for changes in scope, project cost increase, implementation period extension, additional loan and second loan reallocation of the MRT-3 rehabilitation project were green lit, according to Balisacan.
“This project involves upgrading MRT-3 to its original, as designed, state, with provision for capacity expansion in the future. All subsystems will be restored, renewed or upgraded, including the tracks, signaling system, power supply system, overhead catenary system and communication system, as well as maintenance in a station equipment,” he said.
In addition, the project involves integrating other MRT-3-related projects, such as the common station, the trainsets, and the transition to a four-car train configuration. The rehabilitation project aims to enhance the safety and level of MRT-3’s service and to promote its use to help alleviate the worsening traffic congestion in Metro Manila.
The Board likewise approved the expanded scope of use of the P2.12-billion Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) loan balance for communications, navigation, surveillance/air traffic management system (CNS/ATM) maintenance and resiliency enhancement. The project will have the following components: maintenance contracts, ultimate fallback system, and the feasibility study for the independent back-up system.
Last November 24, the NEDA Board approved DOTr’s request for a 19-month loan validity extension for the new CNS/ATM systems development project.
The February 2 approval, on the other hand, includes a 60-month loan validity extension from 2023 to 2028 to cover the preceding intended utilization. This will allow for upgrade of the country’s air transport facilities to international standards.
The approval follows the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines’ CNS/ATM system power supply shutdown that grounded hundreds of flights in the country’s air hubs on January 1.
Aside from the four transport-related projects, the NEDA Board approved on February 2 the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital Cancer Center Public Private Partnership project; the Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project; and Integrated Flood Resilience and Adaptation Project Phase I.
