DPWH to bid out 3 road projects worth P190B

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is set to bid out three major public private partnership (PPP) projects worth close to P190 billion in the second half of the year as the Aquino administration steps up efforts to build major road networks nationwide.

These projects are the P35.4-billion Cavite Laguna Expressway, the P122.8-billion Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike and the P30-billion Central Luzon Link Expressway.

DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said the agency is set to bid out the contract for the P35.4-billion Cavite Laguna Expressway project on June 2 to give   prequalified bidders more time to prepare their documents.

The 47-kilometer closed-system tolled expressway would connect the   South Luzon expressway (SLEX) and the Manila Cavite Tollroad expressway (Cavitex). The four-lane expressway would start from the Cavitex in Kawit, Cavite and end at the SLEX-Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan, Laguna.

Singson said the DPWH is also set to present the proposed P122.8-billion Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike to the Board of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)   for approval.

He said the 47-kilometer expressway dike would facilitate traffic flow and mitigate flooding in the western coastal communities along Laguna Lake from Bicutan in Taguig City through Calamba to Los Baños in Laguna.

The first segment is from Bicutan to Calamba while the second phase would stretch from Calamba to Los Baños.

According to Singson, the expressway dike would cost about P65 billion while the reclamation of 500 to 700 hectares of raw land would cost about P58 billion.

Singson said the agency is also scheduled to bid out the P30 billion Central Luzon Link Expressway to improve transportation between Manila and Central Luzon by expanding the Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas corridor.

The first phase, he said, worth P15 billion would stretch 30.7 kilometers from Tarlac to Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija while the second phase worth P14.2 billion covers a 35.7-kilometer stretch from Cabanatuan to San Jose in Nueva Ecija.

The DPWH said the project would be financed through Official Development Assistance (ODA) funds while the operation and maintenance will be under PPP.

According to him, the DPWH is currently supervising the construction of six major road networks all over the country.

Singson said the government is set to showcase major infrastructure projects during the World Economic Forum (WEF) to be hosted by the country next week.