The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board’s Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CabCom) approved on July 27 improvements amounting to P13.5 billion for three regional projects, two of which involve transport infrastructure, intended to further strengthen the Philippine government’s commitment to regional growth.
Changes in scope and cost were discussed for the Davao City Bypass Construction Project; Panguil Bay Bridge Project; and Flood Risk Management Project in Cagayan River, Tagoloan River, and Imus River.
Led by the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Davao City Bypass road project is divided into three sections (south, center, and north) and has a total length of 45.2 kilometers. The scope of the project has changed from a two-lane road and main tunnel and two-stage implementation scheme to a four-lane road and main tunnel and single-stage implementation scheme. The cost has also changed from P16.8 billion to P25.8 billion to cover differences in scope, foreign exchange rate, cost of civil works, and consulting services.
Another project under DPWH is Panguil Bay Bridge, whose change in scope covers the following: total length of the main bridge, approach bridges, and approach roads stretched from 3,476 meters to 3,772.54 meters; width of main bridge from 14.5 meters to 15.5 meters; pile length from 33-44 meters to 65-90 meters; borehole diameter from 1.5 meters to 2.5 meters; inclusion of appropriate seismic design to ensure structural safety of the bridge; and additional temporary facilities for construction such as docking lot, casting site, crane ways, and ancillary facilities for the bridge.
The change in cost from P4.9 billion to P7.4 billion covers the actual expenses for right-of-way acquisition carried out by the Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte District Engineering Offices, excluding service charge.
The Panguil Bay Bridge which is considered to be the longest bridge in the Philippines when completed is set to break ground in October this year. This was announced by Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar.
The Panguil Bay Bridge which will link Tangub City in Misamis Occidental and the municipality of Tubod in Lanao del Norte will be 3.9 kilometers long and will surpass the 2.2-kilometer San Juanico Bridge between Samar and Leyte.
Of the regions involved, three (Regions XI, II, Calabarzon) posted gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth rates last year of 10.9%, 7.2%, and 6.7%, respectively. These are higher than the National Capital Region’s 6.1%.
These regions aim to achieve GRDP growth rates of 10.5% to 11.5% (Region XI), 6.5% to 7.5% (Region II), and 6.0% to 7.3% (Calabarzon) by 2022.
“The ICC and the whole of government [are] steadfast in sustaining these regions’ growth momentum. These improvements in the projects reflect this commitment,” said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia, co-chair of the ICC.
Pernia added that regional projects provide interconnectivity and facilitate exchange of goods and services, besides easing movement of people. The Panguil Bay Bridge Project specifically will boost growth in Regions IX, X, and XII.
Meanwhile, the ICC urged the Department of Transportation to fast-track the implementation of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT), which forms part of the Metro Cebu Intermodal and Integrated Transport System (MCIITS), to achieve interoperability by June 2021.
The MCIITS, which will include the CBRT, a skytrain project, intelligent transport systems, light rail transit, and a greenways project, among others, encompasses the package of solutions to address congestion and transport problems in Metro Cebu.
