Over P61 B in infra projects completed this year

The government was expected to complete the construction, rehabilitation and expansion this year of 23 priority infrastructure projects worth over P61 billion, Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidential Management Staff chief Secretary Cerge Remonde, who also chairs the Palace’s Infrastructure Pro-Performance Steering Committee, said in his year-end report to President Arroyo that of the 23 projects, 10 have already been completed as of Nov. 30, 2007.

“For much of the year, we were focused on two priority concerns: micro, small and medium enterprises program as a strategy for growing a robust, entrepreneurial middle class; and monitoring the efficient implementation of the infrastructure program anchored on the five super regions,” Remonde said.

“Both are key components of the President’s social payback program and are strategic to employment generation and job creation,” he said.

These include the Bohol Circumferential Road, Diosdado Macapagal Bridge, New Iloilo and New Bacolod Airports, the Ports of Jagna, Maasin, Cawit, and Tubigon, the 950-kW Photovoltaic Power Plant in Cagayan de Oro City, and the 210-MW Clean Coal Plant in Phividec.

Of the total amount, P36.12 billion went to the completed projects, while the balance of P25.15 billion covered projects to be completed in the last quarter of 2007. Of the 23, four projects are in the Luzon Urban Beltway, 11 in Central Philippines, four in Mindanao while four are implemented nationwide, Remonde said.

These projects include four airports, 10 seaports, three power and electrification, and two roads and bridges projects. The four infrastructure projects being implemented nationwide are the Farm-to-Market Roads (FMRs), cold chain facilities, hospital upgrading, and small irrigation, he said.

The projects that were to be completed in December were: Bicol Emergency Power Restoration; Subic Bay, Batangas, Lucena, Limasawa, Naval and Ubay Ports; and the Cotabato and Siargao Airports. Also to be completed in December were specific projects planned for 2007: FMRs, Cold Chain, Small Irrigation and Hospital Upgrading projects.

The projects, he said, will contribute to the development of their respective super regions, such as FMRs and cold chain facilities, and the rehabilitation and restoration of small irrigation in the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle (NLAQ).

“On the other hand, the completion of the ports in Batangas, Subic Bay, and Lucena will all contribute to the Luzon Urban Beltway’s thrust of being a globally competitive industrial and services center, with a seamless movement of goods, services, and people,” Remonde said.

Meanwhile, the Bicol Emergency Power Restoration, Bohol Circumferential Road, five ports-Jagna, Maasin, Ubay, Limasawa, Naval and Tubigon, and three airports-New Iloilo, New Bacolod, and Siargao, are all part of the Central Philippines Super region, whose main development thrust is sustainable tourism, he said.

“The development and improvement of these points of entry will make it easier and more convenient for tourists to visit the Central Philippines, thus, spurring greater economic activity in the Super region,” he said.

The commissioning of the 950-kW Photovoltaic Power Plant and 210-MW Clean Coal Plant in Phividec, and the development of the Cotabato Airport, along with the construction of FMRs, and rehabilitation and restoration of small irrigation, are expected to contribute to the enhancement of the Mindanao Super region’s competitive edge in agribusiness and promotion of tourism with the improvement of existing infrastructure, Remonde added.