RDC-7 to prioritize infra development

CEBU, Philippines - Infrastructure development will continue to be a priority of the Central Visayas region over the medium term.

Region 7's Regional Development Plan for 2017-2022 puts focus on improving connectivity of the region's provinces with each other and rest of the country.

Particularly, the air transport sector continued to expand with the addition of domestic and international flights going to and emanating from the region's major airports.

From 2010-2016, total passenger traffic both domestic and international at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) grew at an average annual rate of 5.6 percent.

During the same period, passenger traffic at Tagbilaran Airport also increase by an average of 5 percent while the Sibulan-Dumaguete Airport saw an average growth of 9  percent in passenger traffic from 2014-2016.

In the last two years, the new Panglao Airport in Bohol and the second terminal building of MCIA are among the big-ticket airport projects which are both expected to open in middle next year. The improvement of Siquijor Airport has also started.

Efren Carreon, regional director of National Economic and Development Authority, said the airports' modernization should bring in more visitors to the region, resulting to increased economic activity. 

Moreover, to address the congestion at the current Cebu International Port, a new container port, which was approved by NEDA Board last year, will be built in Consolacion, Cebu.

Despite these developments, the region's transport infrastructure remains dismally inadequate and poor in quality. This is reflective of the country's condition in general.

The Global Competitiveness Report 2016-2017, which assessed the competitiveness landscapes of 138 economies worldwide, ranked the Philippines at 106th place in terms of quality of roads, 113th in port infrastructure, and 116th in air transport infrastructure.

The RDP noted the region's level of transport development is outpaced by its rapid urbanization, population growth and economic growth.

North-south and east-west access in the provinces are lacking and poorly maintained. Road congestion in highly urbanized areas particularly Metro Cebu is worsening.

Port and airport passenger terminal buildings are overcrowded and lacking in facilities.

The RDP further cited that funding the huge investment requirements of the transport infrastructure necessitates tapping the private sector to finance, construct, operate, maintain and rehabilitate these projects especially in high-priority areas. (FREEMAN)