P34 billion earmarked for right-of-way of infra projects in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines —  The national government has allocated up to P34 billion next year for right-of-way (ROW) acquisitions for various infrastructure projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Transportation.

These projects include the Metro Cebu Expressway, the 4th Cebu-Mactan Bridge, and the new Cebu International Container Port in Consolacion. Cebu.

Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said in a statement yesterday that as the Duterte administration lays the groundwork for the sustained construction of large, multiphase public infrastructure projects, the funds for right-of-way payments will assure the completion of the several ongoing projects under the Build, Build, Build Program.

Pimentel, who is the chairperson of the House strategic intelligence committee, which also has jurisdiction over economic intelligence matters, said that  the P34 billion is nearly three times the P11.8 billion the national government is spending for ROW payments this year.

He said that under the proposed P5.024-trillion General Appropriations Act of 2022, P21.3 billion has been earmarked for DPWH while DOTr will get P12.7 billion for ROW acquisition.

Pimentel said the DPWH’s ROW payments are meant to pave the way for the construction of new roads, flyovers and bridges, such as the 74-kilometer Metro Cebu Expressway Project and the 8.2-kilometer 4th Cebu-Mactan Bridge and Coastal Road Project.

The Metro Cebu Expressway is seen to provide a seamless traffic flow from the City of Naga in the south to Danao City in the north traversing the slopes of the mountain range of Cebu Province.

 “Once the project will be fully opened to traffic, travel time from Naga City to Danao City will be reduced from three hours to one hour and ten minutes,” according to the DPWH.

The 4-lane expressway, which has a center island and sidewalks on each side, will be divided into three segments. Segment 3 has already started.

 Another high-impact infrastructure projects in Cebu is the 4th Cebu-Mactan Bridge, which spans 3.3 kilometers, including an elevated viaduct of 2.86 kilometers with two lanes in each direction.

  The project is expected to contribute to the socio-economic development in Metro Cebu.

 Meanwhile, Pimentel said the bulk of the DOTr’s ROW payments will go to the property owners affected by its various projects, including the 25-hectare New Cebu International Container Port Project in Consolacion, Cebu.

Cebu Port Authority general manager Leonilo Miole earlier said that they see this project as a long-term solution to the congestion problem at Cebu International Port. The new international port is set to be completed on May 28, 2024.

 This multi-billion peso infrastructure project is financed through the $172.64-million or P8.48-billion loan agreement signed in 2018 by the Philippine government and South Korea’s Export Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM).

Once completed, Miole said, all international cargo operations will be transferred to Consolacion.  — FPL (FREEMAN)