Group offers P170-B interconnected tunnel PPP

A Filipino consortium is proposing to the incoming administration a P170-billion public-private partnership (PPP) project involving the construction of interconnected tunnels nationwide to address the country’s transport problems, support the agriculture sector and curb smuggling.

Philtrak Inc. president Francis Yuseco said the project called The Philippines Integrated Trackways Systems was proposed to the incoming administration through incoming transport secretary Arthur Tugade.

Members of the consortium behind the proposal are Philtrak Inc., Del Monte Motor Works Corp., Del Monte Land Transport Inc., Micrologics Systems Inc., Versatech Engineering Consultants Inc., and Land Excel Corp.

The project plans to build a network of interconnected tunnels with regular opening slots to allow the entry and exit of specially designed passenger vehicles, cargo freights and farmers and fisher-folks’ refrigerated and none refrigerated vans in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The tunnels would also be connected to the country’s ports.

Entry and exit of vans and vehicles to the tunnels would be pre-programmed through local stations and a central command post equipped with hardware and software monitoring as well as a data keeping program.

As part of the project, townships with houses using solar panels would also be built adjacent to the tunnels to serve as homes of families who would consider going back to their respective provinces.

The proposed project aims to support farmers and fishermen by allowing them to transport their own produce from farm and sea gates to city market stalls without having to deal with middle men.

It is also expected to help farmers and fishermen increase their income and curb smuggling by monitoring the entry and exit of trucks.

The PPP program launched by the Aquino administration in 2010 seeks to get the private sector as government’s partner in infrastructure development.