Major infrastructure projects lined up

BAGAC, Bataan — Four infrastructure projects in the government’s public-private partnership (PPP) pipeline will be up for approval when a National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) body meets today, a senior PPP Center official said last week.

PPP Center Deputy Executive Director Eleazar E. Ricote said last week the NEDA Investment Coordination Committee ( NEDA- ICC) has tabled for approval the P6.28-billion C-5 Modern Bus Transit System; the P10.53- bil- lion Batangas-Manila (Batman) 1 Natural Gas Pipeline Project; the P50.15-billion Ortigas-Taytay Light Rail Transit Line 4 project; and the P74.56-billion Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Development Project.

Mr. Ricote said approval of the four projects at the NEDA- ICC level has “high chances.”

“These are priority projects and these have gone through studies,” Mr. Ricote told reporters at the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Senior Officials’ Meeting here.

The PPP Center’s Web site said the C-5 Modern Bus Transit System Project involves an interim bus service that will later develop into a bus rapid transit system along that thoroughfare, with designated stops and schedules and well-furbished bus units. The private partner will finance, construct and develop the system.

The BatMan project involves a 110-kilometer pipeline that will convey and supply natural gas in the Batangas, Laguna, Cavite and Metro Manila.

LRT-Line 4 is a proposed six station, 11-km railway from Taytay, Rizal to the intersection of Ortigas Avenue and Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA). The project aims to decongest Ortigas Avenue and provide commuting alternatives for residents in Taytay and nearby towns.

The NAIA Development Project aims to improve the airport’s operations and meet International Civil Aviation Organization standards.

If approved, the infrastructure projects will be endorsed for approval by the NEDA Board, which is headed by President Benigno S.C. Aquino III whose administration has singled out major infrastructure as a legacy when he steps down on June 30 next year. NEDA Board approval will then set the stage for the bidding process of the projects.

Ten PPP deals cumulatively worth some P189 billion have been awarded since the flagship infrastructure program was launched in the third quarter of 2010, namely: P1.72-billion Automatic Fare Collection System, P2.01billion Daang Hari- South Luzon Expressway Link Road Project, P2.50-billion Southwest Integrated Transport System Project, P8.69-billion Modernization of Philippine Orthopedic Center project, P15.86- billion second phase of the NAIA Expressway Project, P16.43- billion first phase of the PPP for School Infrastructure Project (PSIP), PSIP’s P3.86-billion second phase, P17.52-billion Mactan-Cebu International Airport Passenger Terminal Building, P55.51-billion Cavite-Laguna Expressway, and P64.9-billion LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension and Operation & Maintenance project. —