Projects readied for NEDA Board approval

NINE infrastructure projects — cumulatively worth some P738 billion — will be up for approval when the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board — led by President Rodrigo R. Duterte — meets next week, the chief socioeconomic planner said yesterday.

“These flagship projects will be finalized in the upcoming NEDA Board meeting on June 27,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said in a forum in Makati City.

Projects approved by the NEDA Board are deemed ready for implementation or for offer to interested investors.

Mr. Pernia enumerated the projects as the: P230-billion first phase of the Mega Manila Subway Project; P151- billion Philippine National Railways ( PNR) longhaul line between Calamba, Laguna and Legaspi City; P150-billion Malolos- Clark Airport- Clark Green City Rail project; P134-billion PNR South Commuter Line between Manila’s Tutuban area and Los Baños, Laguna; P35.26billion Tagum-Davao-Digos Mindanao Railway project; P15.354billion Clark International Airport new terminal building; P10.857- billion New Centennial Water Source- Kaliwa Dam Project; P8.918-billion Cavite Industrial Area Flood Management Project and P2.7- billion Chico River Pump Irrigation Project.

Except for Clark Airport’s new terminal, which will be built using state funds, the rest will be funded by foreign aid.

“These are the ones that seem to be needed by the people — the commuter lines — to decongest Metro Manila,” Mr. Pernia said.

“There’s still the procurement, the bidding. It’ll probably take six to nine months, maybe a year [to start construction]. But that is an implementing agency concern,” he added, referring to the Transportation and Public Works departments, as well as the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System. —