Nat’l Transport Policy, 11 major projects OKd

The National Economic and Development Authority Board yesterday approved a National Transport Policy (NTP) as well as 11 projects, including big-ticket packages involving to two railways and an airport.

In a statement, Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said the Neda board’s latest approvals were meant to help translate the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017–2022 “into actual programs that will benefit Filipinos, considering traffic in urban areas most especially.”

With these projects, the government assures the people that the problem of congestion on the roads is being prioritized, Pernia said.

“The NTP is a priority strategy reflected in the PDP as we seek to provide accessible social services through better connectivity.”

The Neda said the NTP was aimed at unifying all transport-related projects in the country and synchronizing decisions and investments of all transport-related agencies, to allow better coordination of efforts between the national and local levels.

Also, the policy paves the way for a national transport system that is “safe, secure, reliable, efficient, integrated, intermodal, affordable, cost-effective, environmentally sustainable, and people-oriented.”

The Neda said the implementing rules for the NTP would still be formulated.

Among the projects that the Neda approved was the P211.43-billion Malolos-Clark Railway Project (also called PNR North 2), which the Department of Transportation will implement through official development assistance.

This project involves the construction of a 69.5-kilometer commuter line and airport express railway between Malolos and Clark Green City through Clark International Airport.

Similarly, the Neda gave the greenlight for the P35.26-billion, locally funded Mindanao Railway Project Phase 1.

At 102.38-km and running from Tagum City in Davao del Norte to Digos City in Davao del Sur, this railway will be the initial part of the proposed 830-km MRP loop.

There is also Clark International Airport (CIA) Expansion Project of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, for which the remaining fund needed is P12.55 billion.

Expected to be completed by 2019, the project involves an 82,600-square-meter terminal building which can accommodate eight million passengers yearly.

The other projects approved were the New Configuration of the LRT Line 1 North Extension Project-Common Station (DOTr, P2.8 billion); Change in Scope, Cost, and Financing Arrangements for the Arterial Road Bypass Project Phase II (DPWH, P4.62 billion), and the New Communications, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management Systems Development Project (DOTr, P10.87 billion).

Also approved were the Change in Financing of the New Centennial Water Source – Kaliwa Dam Project (Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, P10.86 billion) and Project Approval and Change in Financing of Chico River Pump Irrigation Project (National Irrigation Administration, P2.7 billion).