Gov’t set to complete cost verification for 2 infra projects

MANILA, Philippines - The government is looking to complete the verification of costs for two infrastructure projects approved in principle by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) board before the end of the year, a cabinet official said.

Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said in a text message that the plan is for the NEDA Board to meet again before Christmas for the verification of costs of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) project and the North Luzon and South Luzon Expressways (NLEx-SLEx) connector road project.

The two projects were approved conditionally by the NEDA Board as President Aquino wants the costs of the projects to be verified once more.

Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said in a text message the President wants the costs to be validated as these are seen to be “on the high side.”

The P43.33 billion CALAX involves the financing, design and construction of a 47.02 kilometer (km) four-lane expressway which will link the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway to SLEx through the provinces of Cavite and Laguna.

The P25.56 billion NLEx-SLEx connector road proposed by Metro Pacific Investments Corp.(MPIC) intends to decongest Metro Manila traffic and provide better access to ports.

Earlier, Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) president Ramoncito Fernandez said they hope to reach a compromise with San Miguel Corp. and the Citra Group on the five-km common segment of their road proposals by Dec. 15.

MPTC is the tollway unit of MPIC.

The Citra Group has also proposed a project to link the NLEx to SLEx.

The Citra Group’s P25 billion proposal  involves the construction of a 14-km, six-lane elevated tollway with various exit points such as Quirino Avenue, Plaza Dilao, Aurora Boulevard, E. Rodriguez Ave, Quezon Boulevard, Sgt. Rivera, and Balintawak.

While the NEDA Board approved the two infrastructure projects in principle subject to further review of costs, it gave its greenlight to other projects. These are the P2.12 billion development of the Tacloban Airport; P8.81 billion acquisition of multi-role response vehicles for the Philippine Coast Guard; P8.87 billion construction of the  Mactan-Cebu international airport’s new passenger terminal; the P1.72 billion contactless automatic fare collection system on the Light Rail Transit’s Lines 1 and 2 and Metro Rail Transit; the P68.28 million convergence on enhancement for rural growth and empowerment project of the Department of Agrarian Reform; the P1.16 billion rehabilitation, operation and maintenance of the Angat hydroelectric power plant; the P1.14 billion reconstruction of the Albay West Coast road; P7.39 billion extension of the Mindanao Rural Development project for two years and the P13.14 billion school infrastructure project of the Department of Education.