NEDA clears P1.4-B tollroad project

MANILA, Philippines - The Cabinet-level Investment Coordination Committee under the National and Economic Development Authority (NEDA) has given the green light to the government’s first public private partnership (PPP) project involving the construction of a four-kilometer, four-lane tollroad from Daang Hari in Bacoor, Cavite to the South Luzon Expressway (Slex).

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga Jr. said the P1.4-billion project would serve as an alternate route from Cavite to Metro Manila reducing travel time from Daang Hari in Bacoor, Cavite to the Alabang interchange and decongest traffic in some parts of Cavite, Las Pinas, and Muntinlupa.

“The project will support one of the objectives in the 2011-2016 Philippine Development Plan, that is, to develop an integrated multimodal logistics and transport system that will spread development from large cities to smaller town and rural areas,” Paderanga stressed.

He pointed out that the Daang Hari-Slex Link Road Project would pass through the New Bilibid Prison Reservation and would connect Daang Hari in Bacoor, Cavite to Slex near the Susana Heights interchange.

“Cavite is a rapidly growing industrial and commercial center, thus there should be a dependable access to this production area,” he added.

Paderanga explained that the Daang Hari-Slex Link project would now be brought to the NEDA Board for confirmation to facilitate bidding out to the private sector as a PPP project.

The Aquino administration has listed 83 priority infrastructure projects worth P739.8 billion to be undertaken through the PPP scheme. The administration said 10 projects worth P127.8 billion have been short-listed and readied for rollout in 2011.

The 10 PPP projects for 2011 are MRT/LRT expansion project (P70 billon), MRT Line 2 Phase 2 (line 2 east extension at P11.299 billion), new Bohol airport (P7.543 billion), Puerto Princesa airport (P4.362 billion), NLEx-SLEx Link Expressway (P21 billion), CALA Expressway-Manila side section (P10.5 billion) and Daraga International Airport (P3.075 billion). Three projects, which costs have yet to be determined are the development of city terminal for Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, privatization of Laguindingan airport operation and maintenance and supply of treated bulk water for Metro Manila.

The long list involves 73 other projects slated for tender by 2012 and beyond. Of this long list, 28 projects with investment requirement of P263.5 billion have been identified for competitive selection. The long list also include 43 other projects with estimated investments of P348.5 billion and are open for partnership with other private companies.