P348-B worth of infra projects up for pitching to China

The Philippines will pitch 15 infrastructure projects worth at least P348.3 billion to the Chinese government for loan financing, the country’s chief economist said.

Socieconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia told reporters last Friday that economic managers were expected to have firmed up over the weekend the list of projects for Chinese financing, as it would form part of the six-year development program for Philippine-Chinese economic cooperation. The cooperation agreement will be signed by President Duterte and China Vice Premier Wang Yang, who will visit the country on March 16-17.

Documents provided by state planning agency National Economic and Development Authority to reporters showed that the two biggest projects being eyed to be funded by the Chinese were the P151-million south line of the North-South Railway Project (NSRP) and the P128.1-billion Mindanao Railway Project.

Besides the 581-kilometer NSRP south line that will connect Manila to Bicol region, also earlier identified as priority projects were the P18.7-billion New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project and the P2.7-billion Chico River Pump Irrigation Project.

The proposed 2,000-kilometer Mindanao railway, Neda said, would connect the island’s growth centers through the construction of modern railroad tracks, operation of state-of-the-art rolling stocks, and the construction of terminals in strategic areas where trading posts would likewise be established.

The railway system, which as of late last year was undergoing detailed feasibility study scheduled for completion within the first quarter, will traverse a series of cities and provinces to form a Mindanao-wide rail network, as well as will link itself to major ports and other gateways in the island, Neda said.

Phase 1 of the railway project will cover the Tagum-Davao-Digos section, and will extend to also connect key Mindanao cities such as Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Iligan, Surigao and Zamboanga.

Also to be pitched for Chinese financing are the following: P14.9-billion Ilocos Norte Irrigation Project-Stage 2; P14.8-billion Panay River Basin Integrated Development Project; P4.1-billion Bohol Northeast Basin Multipurpose Dam Project; P4-billion Tumauini River Multipurpose Project; P3.8-billion National Fish Ports Project-Package 3; P3.5-billion Gregorio del Pilar Impounding Project; P1.4-billion Rehabilitation/Improvement of the Zamboanga Fish Port Complex, and P1.2-billion Bohol Northern Basin Multipurpose Dam Project.

The government will also seek financing from China for the following projects: Subic-Clark Railway Project; Bonifacio Global City-Ninoy Aquino International Airport segment of the Metro Manila Bus Rapid Transit-Edsa project, and the Regional Fish Port Project for Greater Capital Region (covering Metro Manila, Regions 3 and 4A).

The 65-kilometer Subic-Clark Railway was estimated to cost P35 million, for implementation in 2017-2022.

The Philippine government had also identified 25 projects for feasibility study support.

Nine projects had been prioritized, namely: North Luzon Expressway East Project; Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges; Davao City Expressway Project; Ambal-Simuay Sub-Basin of the Mindanao River Basin Flood Control and River Protection Project; Dinagat (Leyte)-Surigao Link Bridge; Luzon-Samar Link Bridge; Agus 3 Hydroelectric Plant; Pasacao-Balatan Tourism Coastal Development Program; and Camarines Sur Expressway Project.