Japan to support urban infra planning in Davao – NEDA

MANILA, Philippines - The Japanese government has offered support for the institutionalization of urban infrastructure planning and formulation in Davao City, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said over the weekend.

NEDA Deputy Director General for investment planning Rolando Tungpalan said the agency has entered into discussions with Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhide Ishikawa and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) chief representative Susumu Ito for the Davao City Infrastructure Development Plan and Capacity Building Project.

“The Japanese government’s timely offer of assistance will enable the Davao City government to respond to the challenges of urbanization resulting from increased economic activity in the city,” Tungpalan said.

A meeting between NEDA and the Japanese officials took place in Davao City on June 21.

Tungpalan said the project would develop the capability of both local and national government personnel on new urban infrastructure planning methodologies and best practices. It is expected to be implemented for 18 months.

The capacity building project involves the following activities: introduction of new urban infrastructure planning methodologies and best practices; development of technical know-how on the formulation of planning manuals, guidelines, training materials and tools; and conduct of knowledge transfers on sector-specific development priorities and regional development needs to the urban infrastructure planning exercises.

Local infrastructure and urban planning experts would also be provided trainings in Japan.

NEDA Region XI Director Ma. Lourdes Lim said the initiative would result in more Japan-initiated projects in Davao and the rest of Mindanao.

“This will lead to more joint Philippine-Japan activities aimed at helping Davao and the rest of Mindanao fulfill their economic growth potentials under the Duterte administration,” she said.

Infrastructure is among the economic priorities of the incoming Duterte administration with planned annual spending targeted at five percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

Public-private partnerships would also help in bridging the country’s infrastructure gap.

Incoming NEDA director General Ernesto Pernia said the Duterte administration is keen on speeding up the rollout of projects under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program by streamlining the procurement system.

He noted that the average time it took to implement the 12 PPP projects in the past six years was 29 months. This, he said, can be shortened to between 18 to 20 months.