A National Transport Policy (NTP) was adopted by the National Economic and Development Authority Board at Malacanang yesterday that aims to unify all transport-related projects in the country.
In particular, the policy will synchronize decisions and investments of all transport-related agencies and better coordinate such efforts between the national and local levels.
The NTP envisions a national transport system that is “safe, secure, reliable, efficient, integrated, intermodal, affordable, cost-effective, environmentally sustainable, and people-oriented.”
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said that the primary goal of the Duterte Administration is to translate the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017–2022 into actual programs that will benefit Filipinos, considering traffic in urban areas most especially.
“The government assures the people that the problem of congestion on the roads is still being prioritized. The NTP is a priority strategy reflected in the PDP as we seek to provide accessible social services through better connectivity,” Pernia added.
The corresponding Implementing Rules and Regulations of the NTP has yet to be formulated.
Meanwhile, 11 other projects were also approved/confirmed by the NEDA Board:
1) Mindanao Railway Project (MRP) Phase 1 Tagum-Davao-Digos Segment
2) Malolos-Clark Railway Project (PNR North 2)
3) Cavite Industrial Area Flood Risk Management Project
4) Clark International Airport (CIA) Expansion Project
5) Education Pathways to Peace in Conflict-Affected Areas of Mindanao (PATHWAYS)
6) Australia Awards and Alumni Engagement Program – Philippines
7) Project Approval and Change in Financing of Chico River Pump Irrigation Project
8) New Communications, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) Systems Development Project: 30-Month Loan Validity Extension and Reallocation of Funds
9) New Configuration of the LRT Line 1 North Extension Project – Common Station / Unified Grand Central Station (North Extension Project)
10) Change in Scope, Cost, and Financing Arrangements for the Arterial Road Bypass Project Phase II
11) Change in Financing of the New Centennial Water Source – Kaliwa Dam Project
Eight of these projects will be financed through Official Development Assistance, and three will be locally funded through the General Appropriations Act.
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ANNEX: Projects Approved by the NEDA Board (June 27, 2017)
- Mindanao Railway Project (MRP) Phase 1 Tagum-Davao-Digos Segment of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) (PhP35.26 billion through local financing)
This is the first phase of the proposed 830-km MRP loop. It involves the establishment of a 102.28-kilometer commuter railway from Tagum City in Davao del Norte to Digos City in Davao del Sur. It is expected to be operational by 2020 through DOTr’s effort to fast-track the Right-of-Way acquisition.
- Malolos-Clark Railway Project (PNR North 2) of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) (PhP211.43 billion through ODA Financing)
This involves the construction of a commuter line and airport express railway between Malolos and Clark Green City (CGC) through Clark International Airport (CRK).
It is composed of two phases: Phase I – Malolos to Clark International Airport (50.5 km) and Phase II – Clark International Airport to Clark Gren City (19 km).
The project will facilitate seamless movement of people, goods, and services that will help reduce traffic congestion in Metro Manila.
- Cavite Industrial Area Flood Risk Management Project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) (PhP9.89 billion through ODA Financing)
The project aims to mitigate damages due to flooding in the lower reach of San Juan River Basin and the Maalimango drainage areas in Cavite. The project area is about 151.5 square kilometers and involves the improvement of the San Juan River channel and the drainage for Maalimango Creek. It is set to benefit around 8,000 households and 50 industrial firms. The project is expected to be completed by April 2024.
- Clark International Airport (CIA) Expansion Project of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) (remaining investment requirement of PhP12.55 billion through local financing and operations and maintenance for PPP)
The project, an 82,600-square-meter terminal building, has a design capacity of eight million passengers per annum. The project is expected to be completed by 2019.
- Education Pathways to Peace in Conflict-Affected Areas of Mindanao (PATHWAYS) of the Department of Education (DepEd) (PhP3.47 billion through ODA Financing)
This will develop institutional capacity and strengthen critical systems essential for improving equitable access to and the quality of educational services in the primary grade levels (K-3) in the ARMM. The program implementation will be from July 2017 to 2026.
- Australia Awards and Alumni Engagement Program – Philippinesof the NEDA, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Civil Service Commission (CSC) (PhP1.19 billion through ODA Financing)
The project will provide a successor program to the Philippines-Australia Human Resource and Organizational Development Facility (PAHRODF), with the view of the retaining the human resources and organizational development benefits brought by PAHRODF. The program will run from September 2017-2025.
- New Communications, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) Systems Development Project: 30-Month Loan Validity Extension and Reallocation of Funds of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) (PhP10.87 billion through ODA Financing)
The project involves two components: Package 1 – Construction of Air Traffic Management (ATM) Automation System and construction of the Manila ATM Center Building in Pasay City near NAIA, and Package 2 – Installation of the Communications equipment and surveillance equipment in the 4 radar sites (Tagaytay, Palawan, Zamboanga, and Davao).
It will improve safety, reliability, and efficiency of the air traffic system in the country. The project is expected to be completed by 2019.
- New Configuration of the LRT Line 1 North Extension Project – Common Station / Unified Grand Central Station (North Extension Project) of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) (PhP2.8 billion through local financing)
The proposed new configuration includes a total concourse area of 13,700 square meters connecting the LRT Line 1 North Extension, MRT 3, and MRT 7 on the corner of North Avenue and EDSA.
It will deliver the required Level of Service for up to 1.28 million passengers per day. It is expected to be completed by April 2019.
- Change in Scope, Cost, and Financing Arrangements for the Arterial Road Bypass Project Phase II of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) (PhP4.62 billion through ODA Financing)
The project aims to complete the remaining segments of the Plaridel Bypass Road to alleviate the perennial traffic congestion at the interconnection point of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) with the Daang Maharlika Highway.
The change will increase the total project cost from PhP3.34 billion to PhP4.62 billion. It is expected to be completed by 2019.
- Change in Financing of the New Centennial Water Source – Kaliwa Dam Project of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) (PhP10.86 billion through ODA Financing)
The funding source of the project will change from Public-Private Partnership to ODA. The change will lower the total project cost from PhP18.72 billion to PhP10.86 billion.
The project will increase Metro Manila’s raw water supply and ensure water security. It involves the financing, design, and construction of an additional raw water supply source with a design capacity of 600 million liters per day, through the commissioning of Kaliwa Dam, including intake facilities and related facilities. It is expected to be completed in two years.
- Project Approval and Change in Financing of Chico River Pump Irrigation Project of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) (PhP2.7 billion through ODA Financing)
The project, with an implementation period of three years, involves the installation of pump and the construction of pumps with the proposed pumping station located at the right bank facing downstream of the Chico River, with irrigation canals. The project will provide irrigation water supply to around 8,700 hectares of farmland and will benefit around 4,350 farmers.
The funding source of the project will change from local financing to ODA. This will allow the NIA to tap a grant/technical assistance in order to comply with NEDA Board’s instruction last year to reconfigure the project design of the CRPIP to include a hydropower energy component.
