President Aquino approved 13 projects worth P307.22 billion during
the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) board meeting
yesterday.
The biggest project approved during the NEDA board meeting was the
Laguna Lakeshore Expressway-Dike project, which would cost
P122.81-billion and will be undertaken by the Department of Public Works
and Highways (DPWH). It will be a 47 km. 6-way expressway cum flood
control dike.
Out of the 13 projects, the Department of Transportation and
Communications (DOTC) and the DPWH have five each; and one each for the
Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Agriculture (DA), and the
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
Aside from the Laguna Lakeshore project, other undertakings for the
DPWH are: Flood Risk Management Project for Cagayan de Oro River, P8.55
billion, construction of which will begin on October, 2015, and is
expected to be completed by March, 2022;
Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue/Makati Avenue/Paseo de Roaxas vehicle underpass
project, P1.27 billion. This will be a four-lane underpass with two
lanes per direction along the innermost lanes of Sen. Gil Puyat Ave.
passing under the intersections of Makati Ave. and Paseo de Roxas. It
will be implemented from 2014 to 2016;
Restoration of damaged bridges along the Bohol Circumferential Road,
worth P0.81 billion, which will reconstruct/replace 14 damaged bridges;
and Metro Manila Interchange Construction Project Phase VI, P4.01
billion (sub-projects include: EDSA/North Ave./Mindanao Ave.
interchange; C5/Green Meadows, Calle Industria/Eastwood Interchange; and
EDSA/Roosevelt Ave./Congressional Ave. interchange).
Among the approved projects under the DOTC are: the Iloilo Airport
operations, maintenance and development project, P30.40 billion; Bacolod
Airport operations, maintenance, and development project, P20.26
billion; Davao Airport operations, maintenance, and development project,
P40.57 billion; Puerto Princesa Airport operations, maintenance, and
development project, P5.23 billion; and the Davao Sasa Port
Modernization project, worth P18.99 billion.
For the DOJ, the approved project is the regional prison facilities, a
public-private partnership (PPP) worth P50.18 billion. It will
accommodate 26,000 inmates with facilities for men and women, ranging
from minimum to maximum security.
Under the DA is the Fisheries, Coastal Resources and Livelihood
project, worth P1.86 billion. For DAR, it will undertake the convergence
on value chain enhancement for rural growth and empowerment project,
worth P2.28 billion.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary
Herminio Coloma Jr. said President Aquino directed the Cabinet and NEDA
members “to focus on completing similar ongoing projects and on laying
the groundwork for sustainable, long-term economic development and
inclusive growth.”
Among those who attended the NEDA board meeting were Coloma, Tourism
Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Presidential Legal Counsel Alfredo Benjamin
Caguioa, Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene Almendras, Finance Secretary
Cesar Purisima, Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo,
Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Jesus Paje, Energy
Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla;
Presidential Management Staff (PMS) head Julia Andrea Abad,
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis
Tolentino, Mindanao Development Authority Chairperson Luwalhati
Antonino, Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio
Abaya, and Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural
Modernization Francis Pangilinan.
