HIGHWAY NETWORK DEV’T TO EASE TRAFFIC

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) signed the second phase of the Project for Masterplan on High Standard Highway Network Development.

High standard highways are highways that provide high level of traffic services assuring high speed mobility and safe travel to support economic activities in strategic regions and the country as a whole.

In a statement, Jica said the project is expected to help ease traffic congestion along the country’s national roads, as well as boost investments and jobs creation in the regions.

The project, a follow-up on the previous masterplan conducted in 2010, will cover the entire Philippines and identify infrastructure projects that can be implemented until 2040.

“The project complements the Build, Build, Build program of the Duterte administration as it will define a comprehensive and quality highway network and infrastructure priorities in the entire Philippines, and revitalize economic activities at the regional level,” said Jica chief representative Susumu Ito. “Through this initiative, Jica also aims to support the Philippines in building resiliency against natural disasters since the study will promote quality infrastructure, and identify emergency routes and road network redundancy.”

The previous masterplan study on highway network covered areas within the 200-kilometer radius from Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Tagum-Davao-General Santos Corridor.

Jica is a longstanding development partner of the country in building socioeconomic infrastructure since the ’70s. About 45 percent of its ODA portfolio supported Philippine infrastructure.