NEDA lines up projects for pre-investment preparation

MANILA, Philippines — The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is lining up several connective infrastructure and water projects for the conduct of pre-investment activities using the $100 million technical assistance loan granted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

NEDA Assistant Secretary for Investment Programming Jonathan Uy identified the public works projects as the following: North Eastern Luzon Expressway, revisiting of the Laguna Lakeshore Project, Leyte-Surigao Bridge, Sorsogon Samar Bridge, Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge, Samal Island-Davao Connector Project, Cebu-Negros Bridge and Bataan-Cavite Bridge.

River basin projects meant to improve water resource management and flood control include the Apayao -Abulug, Abra River, Jalaur River, Agus River, Buayan-Malungon, and Tagum-Libuganon.

For rail and transportation, Uy said the ADB loan would be used to “improve the viability and costings” of the following projects: PNR South Long Haul and PNR South Commuter, M’Lang Airport, Mindanao Railway, New Cebu International Container Port, and New Cebu International Container Port.

Also lined up for pre-investment preparation is the National Greenways and Non-Motorized Transport Development Project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“This is the overall program that we are looking at in terms of green and more sustainable transport. Not only in Metro Manila but all over the Philippines,”  UY said.

Also lined up for preparation under the IPIF is the National Intelligent Transport Center which, Uy said is a “necessary adjunct to traffic management.”

In the second half of the year, ADB extended a $100 million technical assistance loan to the government to fund pre-investment activities for connective infrastructure projects and other vital projects.

The board of directors of the international finance institution approved its counterpart funding to the Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility (IPIF) – its first technical assistance loan to the Philippine government – that will support the preparation of several flagship infrastructure projects implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Department of Transportation (DOTr). These cover public infrastructure investments in complex road networks, long-span bridges, flood control systems, ports, airports and railways.

The Philippine government would contribute $64.06 million to the fund, bringing the total cost of the facility to $164.06 million.

On top of the fund is a $5 million technical assistance grant which would be used for capacity building in relevant government agencies with regards to project facilitation, monitoring and reduction of infrastructure bottlenecks, as well as addressing operational issues in various stages of project planning, construction, and operation.