ADB prepares $11-B Phl infra projects for feasibility studies

Around $11 billion worth of complex infrastructure projects would be initially prepared using the $100 million technical assistance loan provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) last year for project preparation.

The Department of Public Works

and Highways signed yesterday the contract with Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Ltd. for the preparation of feasibility studies and detained engineering designs for these new projects consisting mainly of inter-island bridges, tunnels and highways.

Arup was selected by the DPWH using ADB’s procurement standards in line with the provision of the technical assistance. The contract with the Hong Kong-based firm is the first of three consulting packages meant to help the Philippines prepare key infrastructure packages.

“The Philippine government is embarking on an ambitious, but much-needed infrastructure development program,” said DPWH Secretary Mark Villar.

“Major infrastructure projects involving the construction of tunnels through mountainous areas and long-span bridges across islands are unprecedented in the Philippines. A worldclass firm like Arup will help our government generate large-scale, state-of-theart infrastructure projects, optimize public investment, and realize our infrastructure vision,” he added.

Hiroaki Yamaguchi, director of the Transport and Communications Division for ADB’s Southeast Asia Department, said Arup has decades of experience in mega transport projects and can help the country maximize its investments.

“DPWH’s selection of Arup, which has decades of experience in mega transport projects, shows that the Philippine government is becoming increasingly savvy in managing large-scale infrastructure projects,” said Yamaguchi.

“We expect Arup to share its cutting-edge technology, innovation, and know-how with the governthe ment. ADB looks forward to continuing to work with both DPWH and Arup to help the government realize its ambitious projects under the Build Build Build program,” he added.

In October last year, ADB extended a $100 million technical assistance loan, also known as the Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility (IPIF), to the Philippine government to fund pre-investment activities for connective infrastructure projects and other vital projects. This is meant to accelerate the delivery of high-quality public infrastructure projects under the ambitious Build Build Build program.

This will support the preparation of several flagship infrastructure projects implemented by the DPWH and Department of Transportation (DOTr). These cover public infrastructure investments in complex road networks, long-span bridges, flood control systems, ports, airports and railways.