Rollout of 8 more PPP projects eyed before end of P-Noy’s term

MANILA, Philippines - The government hopes to roll out about eight public private partnership (PPP) projects before the end of the Aquino administration.

PPP Center executive director Cosette Canilao said in a briefing three PPP deals which have secured the approval of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board such as the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 6, LRT Line 4, and the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) – South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) Connector Road would “surely be rolled out” before the end of President Aquino’s term. The P65.09 billion LRT Line 6 project covers a proposed 19-kilometer (km) railway from Niyog, Bacoor (the terminus of the LRT 1 Cavite extension) to Dasmariñas City, while the P42.89 billion LRT Line 4 involves the construction of the 11-km rail line running west from the SM City in Taytay to the intersection of Ortigas Avenue and EDSA. The P23.20 billion NLEX- SLEX Connector Road Project will entail the construction an eight-km, four-lane toll road to link the existing NLEX and SLEX, passing through Metro Manila and using the existing Philippine National Railway alignment as its route.

Canilao said the government is also hoping to get the NEDA Board’s green light on other PPP deals such as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Development Project, Batangas-Manila (Bat- Man) 1 Natural Gas Pipeline Project, Plaridel Bypass Toll Road Project, Philippine Travel Center Complex (PTCC) Project and the New Nayong Pilipino at Entertainment City Project so the bidding process for such could start.

The P74.56 billion NAIA Development Project will improve, upgrade and enhance the operational efficiencies of all existing terminals of the airport covering both landside and airside (except air traffic services), to meet the International Civil Aviation Organization standards and develop the main gateway airport of the Philippines.

The P14.72 billion BatMan 1 Natural Gas Pipeline Project will involve the construction of the 121-km transmission pipelines from Batangas to Metro Manila.

The P9.39 billion Plaridel Bypass Toll Road Project in- volves the conversion of the existing 24.61-km road into expressway standards.

The P1.75 billion PTCC in- volves the financing, design, construction and maintenance of a mixed-use, multi modal complex that will house vari- ous tourism-related agencies in Intramuros.

The P1.58 billion New Nayong Pilipino covers the development a tourism-oriented facility that will showcase Filpino culture. “Those are the projects that we hope we could get NEDA Board approval by next year and once we get NEDA Board approval, I think the implementing agencies are keen to roll those out in the first quarter of next year,” Canilao said. She said NEDA director general Arsenio Balisacan is trying to set a NEDA Board meeting in January. The go signal from the NEDA Board chaired by President Aquino is the last approval needed before a project can be offered for bidding.