NEDA slates P580 B projects for approval

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board has slated for approval within the year of around P580 billion worth of infrastructure projects, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said yesterday.

“For many of these projects, the approval of the NEDA board is the last hurdle,” he said in an interview at the meeting of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) yesterday. “Between now and the end of 2017, most of these can be implemented unless there is an impediment.

As of the second quarter of this year, 14 infrastructure projects collectively valued at around P303 billion have been awarded.

Among the projects immediately up for NEDA approval are the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) development project, Batangas-Manila Natural Gas Pipeline project, Plaridel Bypass Toll Road, Philippine Travel Center Complex and New Nayong Pilipino at Entertainment City project.

Among the projects that have yet to undergo approval by the NEDA-Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) are the Manila Bay Integrated Flood Control, Coastal Defense and Expressway Project and the Integrated Transport SystemNorth Terminal.

Pernia also said the current executive director of the Public- Private Partnership ( PPP)

Center, Andre Palacios, would be retained for the meantime while a new center head is not yet formally appointed.

“We will retain the current head of the PPP Center so as not to disrupt the progress of the projects. He has also been doing well,” he said.

Pernia also reiterated his earlier pronouncement of From B-1 cutting down by a third the amount of time it takes to approve and award public infrastructure projects from an average of 29 months to between 18 to 20 months.

“We can reduce the (bureaucratic) layers and reduce the number of departments that have to approve the projects,” he said.