NEDA Board OKs 8 projects

MANILA -- The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board confirmed the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) approvals of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 4, Edsa Greenways Project, and six other new projects worth PHP547.6 billion.

“These projects are the building blocks of our people’s dreams and aspirations. As such, we intend to roll out as many as we can to ease congestion and spread growth throughout the country,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said in a statement.

The MRT 4 Project includes the construction of a 15.56-kilometer elevated monorail transit system from N. Domingo, Quezon City to Taytay Diversion Road-Manila East Road Rotunda in Taytay, Rizal.

The Edsa Greenway Project involves the en

hancement of pedestrian facilities around key rail stations along Edsa, particularly Balintawak, Guadalupe, Cubao, and Taft for the first phase of the project. It will provide safe, secure, efficient, and environment friendly mobility in public spaces available 24/7. Pernia said the Edsa Greenway project is in line with the National Transport Policy that gives priority to transportation projects that will provide pedestrians and bikers safe and direct access to priority destinations such as housing, education, health, and business centers as well as transport modes. The NEDA Board also confirmed the ICC approval of six other projects, namely, the Maritime Safety Enhancement Program by the Department of Transportation (DOTr), and the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge Project, Cebu-Mactan Bridge (4th Bridge) and Coastal Road Construction Project, Davao City Coastal Bypass Road Project, Capas-Botolan Road Project, and the Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Island Bridges Project by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).