GMA, Cabinet approve 15 new infrastructure projects

President Arroyo and the Cabinet ratified yesterday 15 major new government infrastructure development projects, several of which would be implemented even after her term expires in June 2004.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said that the 15 projects were screened and approved by the President and the Cabinet as recommended by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Investment Coordinating Council (ICC).

Six of the projects were ongoing and financed under the official development assistance (ODA) projects.

These were the North Rail project (first phase, section 1), the revised project for the South Manila Commuter Rail, the Light Rail Transit (LRT-1) rehabilitation project II (modernization phase), the Philippine-Australia Local Sustainability Program Expansion and Extension project, General Santos-Tacurong-Nuling 18 KV Transmission project, and the Cebu-Negros-Panay Interconnection Uprating project.

Seven of the projects are also ongoing but need to be extended or adjusted cost-wise.

These are the proposed extension of the closing date of loan for the Metro Manila Strategic Mass Rail Transit Development (Line-2) project; realignment of loan allocation of World-Bank assisted Water Resource Development Project; the change of scope and extension of Tarlac Groundwater Reactivation System project; the three-year extension of the Asian Development Bank-assisted Metro Manila Air Quality Improvement Sector Development Program; the proposed extension of the Belgian Grant for the Belgian Integrated Agrarian Reform Support program; the extension of KfW Loan for the provincial Town Water Supply I and II, and the proposed additional works with cost increase for the rehabilitation of the Tiwi and Makban geothermal projects.