Philippine govt approves $9-bn infrastructure projects

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) board, chaired by Aquino, also approved the extension of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 from the Santolan station in Pasig City to the Masinag Junction in Antipolo City, and the acquisition of additional coaches for MRT 3.

The flood-control master plan, the LRT and MRT projects, the construction of airports in Daraga, Albay province, and Panglao in Bohol province, as well as the upgrade of roads and bridges were approved by the NEDA board in the Palace. 

Together with the 351-billion peso flood-control master plan, the total cost of the projects is 407.4 billion pesos.

The department of public works and highways’ master plan, which calls for at least 351.72 billion pesos in infrastructure spending, covers a total of 11 infrastructure projects.

The projects would be funded by the national budget, loans and grants, and public-private partnerships.

“The [flood-control] master plan has been approved by the NEDA board with the initial allocation of 5 billion pesos,” Communication Secretary Ricky Carandang told reporters after the meeting. “That will happen immediately.”

In the aftermath of last month’s deluge in Metro Manila and the central and southern parts of Luzon, triggered by weeks of monsoon rains, the department unveiled the master plan to address the perennial flooding in the metropolis.

An environment lawyer said there was a cheaper, faster and natural way to address flooding in Metro Manila. Antonio Oposa Jr, a Ramon Magsaysay awardee in 2009, proposed that 100 million pesos be set aside to acquire property for water collection ponds.

“Let’s not build everything in concrete,” he told a hearing of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Clean Water Act last week.

The 11 infrastructure projects in the master plan include the Manila core-area drainage improvements, 27.2 billion pesos; East Manggahan Floodway and improvement in Cainta and Taytay rivers, 26 billion pesos; Malabon-Tullahan river improvements, 21.6 billion pesos; Meycauayan river improvements, 14.04 billion pesos; Valenzuela-Obando-Meycauayan river improvements, 8.631 billion pesos; land-raising for small cities around Laguna Lake, 7.15 billion pesos; and improvement of rivers that flow into Laguna Lake, 637 million pesos.

“The project can proceed well as the funds were released. They should start in a matter of weeks,” Carandang said.