In less than three years before the end of their term, President Duterte’s administration will embark on twelve more major infrastructure projects in a bid to propel the Philippine economy by 2022.
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said 12 infrastructure projects have been given the green light by its Board’s Investment Coordination Committee.
Topping the list is the MRT-4 project that will connect Ortigas business district in Pasig City to Taytay, Rizal province. The project will be co-financed by the Asian Development Bank.
The NEDA-ICC also approved the upgrade of the Davao International Airport and the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental, the gateway to Cagayan de Oro, Iligan City and Marawi City.
Davao City-based businessman Dennis Uy’s Chelsea Lgistics and Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. will finance the upgrade under the operate-add-transfer (OAT) proposals.
The construction of a five-kilomater elevated walkway along EDSA, to be called EDSA Greenways, was also approved.
The ADB will also provide the US$100-million loan to the Philippine government to put up elevated bridges tnear the existing Light Rail Transit and Metro Rail Transit stations on Taft Avenue, Pasay City; Guadalupe, Makati City; Cubao, Quezon City; and Balintawak, Quezon City.
Other approved projects are:
• Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge
• Maritime Safety Enhancement Program
• Cebu-Mactan bridge
• Coastal Road Construction project
• Davao City Coastal bypass road
• Bucana Bridge project
• Capas-Botolan Road project
• Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island bridges project
• Davao City bypass construction project
• Samar-Pacific Coastal Road project
“The Duterte administration will continue to ensure that all projects are implemented on time and on budget,” the NEDA-ICC said in a statement as quoted by the Manila Bulletin. “We remain on track in achieving our target of accelerating infrastructure spending to seven percent of GDP by 2022.”
