The Freeman

NEDA okays add’l infra project for CV

- Mitchelle L. Palaubsano­n/ATO

The National Economic and Developmen­t Authority (NEDA) board has approved the Consolacio­n-Liloan Bypass Road project, which adds up to the 10 projects already implemente­d in the region.

The NEDA board, chaired by the President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. approved the project during their February 27, 2023 meeting, bringing infrastruc­ture flagship projects (IFPs) in the region to a total of 11 which is valued at P377.68 billion. For the whole country, there are 23 new IFPs.

The Consolacio­n-Liloan Bypass Road Project is one of IFPs under the Build-Better-More initiative.

The 10 initial IFPs in Central Visayas includes the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit Operations & Maintenanc­e, Cebu Bus Rapid Transit Project, and the Cebu Public Transport Modernizat­ion Project.

The other projects are: Cebu Urban Mass Rapid Transit (UMRT) Central Line, Cebu-Mactan Bridge (4th Bridge) and Coastal Road Constructi­on Project, Consolacio­n-Liloan Bypass Road Project, Metro Cebu Expressway (Cebu Circumfere­ntial Road), and New Cebu Internatio­nal Container Port Project.

It also includes the New Dumaguete Airport Developmen­t Project (Bacong Internatio­nal Airport), Panglao-Tagbilaran Bus Rapid Transit, and the Panglao-Tagbilaran City Offshore Bridge Connector.

The addition of the 23 new projects brings the total number of IFPs to 185 projects, with a combined value of P9.14 trillion.

On the other hand, 36 projects were also removed from the IFP list.

But NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, who is also the NEDA board vice chairperso­n, said the board's action aims to prioritize vital projects to ensure they receive the necessary backing for prompt and efficient execution.

“Our list of IFPs under the Build-Better-More Program acts as a prioritiza­tion tool to identify high-impact infrastruc­ture projects that require immediate government support,” said Balicasan.

Balicasan added that by rationaliz­ing the list, they ensure the implementa­tion of as many important infrastruc­ture projects of high significan­ce as possible. -

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