March 2, 2018
Official Development Assistance (ODA) from the Government of Japan will help fund almost half, or 6 of 13, of NEDA Board newly approved infrastructure projects.
“Japan is one of our long-time and most trusted development partners. We recognize its commitment to technical excellence in infrastructure,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said during last week’s 36th Joint Meeting of Economic Cooperation Committees of the Philippines and Japan.
Of the six new projects, the total cost of which amounts to around PhP715 billion, five are related to transportation while one is related to flood management.
“Our focus on the transportation sector is part of the bigger mission to decongest Metro Manila, and bring development to the regions, which is embedded in our National Spatial Strategy,” Pernia said.
In view of the JICA study’s estimated PhP3.5 billion cost of traffic in Metro Manila, the Cabinet official said that the government is acting to ease traffic congestion in the mega cities of the country.
“This estimated economic loss in daily traffic is massive, and we must act fast. We are looking at this problem in a comprehensive way. We recognize that transportation is the enabler and driver of socioeconomic development, that is why we have the National Transport Policy approved by the NEDA Board.” Pernia said.
Guided by this policy, the Inter-Agency Technical Committee on Transport Planning and the NEDA Board Cluster on Infrastructure will review plans, projects, and programs for the long-term development of the transport sector, he added.
The government’s transport vision is “a safe, secure, reliable, efficient, integrated, intermodal, affordable, cost-effective, environmentally sustainable, and people-oriented national transport system that ensures improved quality of life of the people.”
“Let me reiterate that infrastructure is crucial. It is a sine qua non in development. What we aim is an infrastructure boom that serves not just the economy but, more importantly, the Filipino people,” Pernia said.
Aside from the six new projects that will be funded by Japan, seven new projects will be funded with assistance from other ODA partners.
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ANNEX:
Projects to be funded through Official Development Assistance
| Project Title | Proponent Agency | Total Project Cost/Total Required Investment Cost (in PhP M) |
Funding Source Code | Funding Source | Sector |
| Improving Growth Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector Project / DPWH | Department of Public Works and Highways |
25,257.22 (including PhP4,062.87 million Tawi-Tawi Bridges) | ODA | ADB | Infrastructure |
| Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility / DOF | Department of Finance | 7,919.20 | ODA | ADB | Infrastructure |
| Priority Bridges under the Pasig River, Marikina River and Manggahan Flood Bridges Construction Project (Binondo-Intramuros and Estrella-Pantaleon Bridges) / DPWH | Department of Public Works and Highways | 5,974.10 | ODA | China – Grant | Infrastructure |
| Cavite Industrial Area Flood Risk Management Project (CIA-FRMP) | Department of Public Works and Highways | 9,891.50 | ODA | JICA | Infrastructure – Social Infrastructure |
| Arterial Road Bypass Project – Phase III – Request for Change in Source of Financing (formerly Plaridel Bypass Road Project) |
Department of Public Works and Highways | 5,260.64 | ODA | JICA | Infrastructure – Transportation |
| Metro Manila Flood Management Project (MMFMP), Phase I | Department of Public Works and Highways Metro Manila Development Authority Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Department of Interior and Local Government |
23,451.32 | ODA | World Bank Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) |
Infrastructure – Social Infrastructure |
| Metro Manila Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) – EDSA | Department of Transportation | 37,760.00 | ODA | ADB (portion only, excludes the PPP portion of project cost that is subject for future ICC/NB approval) |
Infrastructure – Transportation |
| Malolos-Clark Railway Project (PNR North 2) | Department of Transportation | 211,425.20 | ODA | JICA | Infrastructure – Transportation |
| PNR South Commuter and South Longhaul Project
(formerly North-South Railway Project (NSRP)-South Line) |
Department of Transportation | 299,400 (new revised cost for South Commuter and Long Haul Projects) Japan to fund PNR South Commuter Project (PhP124,143) 170,699 (revised cost considering narrow guage rails) 213,974 (original approved cost) |
ODA | PNR South Commuter Project – JICA PNR South Longhaul Project – China |
Infrastructure – Transportation |
| New Cebu International Container Port | Department of Transportation – Cebu Ports Authority | 9,194.67 | ODA | Korea | Infrastructure – Transportation |
| Maritime Safety Capability Project II | Department of Transportation and Communications – Philippine Coast Guard | PhP8,017.41 million (revised project cost)PhP4,922.59 million (original approved cost) |
ODA | JICA | Infrastructure – Transportation |
| Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) – Phase 1 | Department of Transportation | 356,974.17 (updated cost noted by the ICC-CC on Jan 26, 2018) 355,588.46 (originally approved cost) |
ODA | JICA | Infrastructure – Transportation |
| Safe Philippines Project, Phase 1 | Department of Interior and Local Government | 20,313.92 | ODA | China | Infrastructure |
