Palace OKs P171B worth of infrastructure projects

President Duterte has approved the rollout of nine infrastructure projects worth more than P171 billion barely 100 days since he assumed office as the administration wants to impress foreign investors whose interest may waver amid international bad press that the President has been getting.

At the general membership meeting of the Chamber of Thrift Banks, Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia also said the National Economic and Development Authority Board chaired by the President had come up with policy changes that would fast-track the implementation of vital projects aimed at filling the country’s infrastructure gap.

The nine projects approved by the Neda Board last Wednesday are as follow:

P74.6-billion Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) public-private partnership (PPP) project

P37.8-billion Metro Manila Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on Edsa

P23.5-billion first phase of the Metro Manila Flood Management Project

P10.2-billion Inclusive Partnership for Agricultural Competitiveness project

P8-billion second phase of the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement project for the Philippine Coast Guard

P7.8-billion change in scope of the New Bohol Airport Construction and Sustainable Environment Protection project

P4.8-billion increase in area of Bicol International Airport’s passenger terminal building in Albay

P2.4-billion modernization of Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in Leyte

P2.2-billion modernization of Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Bohol.

The biggest project to be undertaken via the PPP route was the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) medium-term solution (doable within three years) to improve safety and security, maximize capacity through ‘refreshed’ infrastructure (airside requirements such as air traffic management), and improve passenger service standards in the existing Naia,” the Neda said. Ben O. de Vera