PNoy: Big-ticket transport projects underway

MANILA, Philippines - As Metro Manila's traffic problem continues to worsen, President Benigno Aquino III said Friday that major transportation projects are now in process.

In his speech during the 23rd Pacific Economic Cooperation Council general meeting, Aquino said a task force of different agencies "is hard at work" to alleviate traffic along Metro Manila's thoroughfares.

"Critical transport infrastructure like seaports, airports, bus terminals, and light rail transport, continue to be upgraded, while big-ticket projects for transportation systems are in the pipeline," the president also said.

"This will not only ensure that the Philippines becomes more competitive, but that the benefits of trade, investment, and growth are able to reach even the most far-flung communities of the Philippines," he added.

Aquino also claimed that in the past five years, the government enhanced the state of Philippine infrastructure.

He said the infrastructure budget in 2015 stands at 4 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), up from 1.8 percent in 2010.

Aquino added that the infrastructure budget will increase to 5 percent of GDP by 2016.

"Might I emphasize that, through the years, our national infrastructure component has been receiving a higher percentage, of a much higher GDP," he said.

Last week, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board chaired by Aquino approved four new projects in transportation, one of which will expand the mass transport system for Metro Manila.

The NEDA Board approved the construction of the LRT Line 4 from EDSA-Ortigas to Taytay City, an 11-kilometer elevated rail facility worth P42.89 billion.

Also approved was the P64.71-billion LRT Line 6, a 19-kilometer elevated rail facility from the terminus of the LRT Line 1 extension in Bacoor going southward through Imus and up to Dasmarinas along Aguinaldo highway.

The NEDA Board also gave the go signal for the construction of the new P15.35-billion passenger terminal building at the Clark International Airport and the P3.53-billion Naga airport development project.