NEDA okays projects for agriculture and infrastructure

MANILA, Philippines -The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has approved projects for agriculture and infrastructure.

The NEDA board approved the Regional Infrastructure for Growth Project (RIGP), Road Upgrading and Preservation Project, School Building Project for Basic Education, Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project and the Agrarian Reform Communities Development Support Program.

The so-called RIGP, costing $100 million will provide local government units (LGUs) access to credits for infrastructure to improve the investment environment of LGUs, the NEDA said.

Funded by the World Bank and to be implemented by the Development Bank of the Philippines, the RIGP will finance “off-the-shelf” and “shovel-ready” projects such as roads, hospitals, and water supply and sanitation, among others.

NEDA also said that the P34.16-billion RUPP will enhance the efforts of the government to improve and preserve national roads.

The project will be implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) across the Philippines, targeting various provinces such as Davao, Agusan del Norte and Nueva Ecija, among others.

The SBP4BE, meanwhile, will be implemented by the Department of Education. Under the project, there will be a total of 680 classrooms to be built in 170 schools in Central Luzon and Calabarzon.

“The P960-million project will be supported by a P800-million grant from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) as well as Philippine government funds,” NEDA said.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-funded MMIP II which aims to develop irrigation and agricultural facilities in North Cotabato and Maguindanao, targeting 20,866 households in these areas.

Additionally, the P7-billion MMIP II of the Department of Agriculture (DA) will also support seed production farms and post-harvest facilities, and potable water supply facilities, among others.

The ARCDSP, a project led by the Department of Agrarian Reform, aims to increase household incomes of 35 Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) in Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, Saranggani, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, the agency also said in its statement.

The P2.5-billion program to be financed by the Italian government will have four components - agricultural and enterprise development, local capacity building and strengthening, community infrastructure development support, and project management.

The NEDA Board also approved the financing of the P755.24-million air navigation facilities of the Department of Transportation and Communication’s Laguindingan Airport Development Project. The Korean Export-Import Bank (KEXIM) will finance P629 million pesos of the cost of the navigation facility, while the government will fund PhP126.24 million.

“The change in scope of NSLP 1 includes procuring level crossing devices, clips and insulators, and increasing quantities of work items. The revised project cost stands at P4.16 billion from P4.05 billion. The project will be sourced mainly from the Korean government’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) and the KEXIM. The NSLP 1 aims to upgrade the South Manila Commuter Rail Project, with Phase 1 covering the line from Caloocan to Alabang,” the NEDA said.