3 big-ticket infra projects worth P71.35 billion get NEDA nod

MANILA, Philippines — The Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CabCom) of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has approved three big-ticket infrastructure projects collectively valued at P71.35 billion, the agency said yesterday.

These include flood control projects in Mindanao, priority bridges in Metro Manila and an agro-enterprise project for rural areas.

The Ambal-Simuay River and Rio Grande de Mindanao River Flood Control Projects in Mindanao worth P39.2 billion involves the construction of flood management infrastructure such as dikes and floodgates along the Ambal-Simuay and Rio Grande de Mindanao which are part of the Mindanao River Basin.

Another project is the construction of the remaining 10 priority bridges crossing the Pasig-Marikina River and Manggahan Floodway that would cost P27.37 billion. This project aims to improve road transport network capacity and efficiency in Metro Manila by adding fix links and alternate routes. This complements the first two bridges – the Binondo-Intramuros and Estrella-Pantaleon Bridges – approved for execution by the NEDA Board last year and would be funded by a grant from the Chinese government.

Likewise approved is the P4.78-billion Rural Agro-Enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth (RAPID Growth) Project of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), which is geared toward improving the productivity of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and enabling them to compete in global markets.  The project intends to support 78,000 farming households by increasing on-farm and off-farm activities and generating employment opportunities in rural areas.

Changes in project scope were also approved during the March 8 ICC-CabCom meeting. These include the increase in cost and the change in scope of the Integrated Marine Environment Monitoring System Phase 2 (PHILO 2) Project of the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) to provide for the purchase of additional vessel monitoring system transceivers for commercial fishing vessels and to utilize both satellite and terrestrial technologies. The project is meant to improve the agency’s capability to monitor illegal fishing activities, ocean and weather data, assess fishery stocks, and maintain the integrity of its fishing vessel registry.

Also cleared is the change in scope and cost for the project called Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation (IDRR-CCA) Measures in Low-Lying Areas of Pampanga Bay which aims to maximize drainage efficiency, minimize flood damage to properties and improve trading and market activities in the municipalities of Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin and Sto. Tomas in the province of Pampanga.