President Rodrigo Duterte has approved at least seven major infrastructure projects worth an estimated P270 billion aimed at improving the country’s road networks and promoting the agriculture and tourism sectors.
The president also endorsed the new government guidelines that will screen and process investment projects to be funded by China.
The latest batch of infrastructure programs and investment policies were tackled during the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) board meeting convened by the president in Malacañang Monday, November 14, as the government moves to ramp up infrastructure spending to spur economic growth in the coming years.
Among the big-ticket projects are:
North-South Railway Project (NSRP)-South Line
New Nayong Pilipino at the Entertainment City
New Cebu International Port
Philippine Rural Development Project expansion
Second Cordillera Highlands Agricultural Resources Management Project scaling-up
General Luis Road (Quezon City to Valenzuela City) improvement/widening project
Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project, stage 2
NEDA director general Ernesto Pernia recently appealed to the public to brace for some inconvenience as a result of the implementation of these major infrastructure projects.
Pernia said construction of the infrastructure projects would be 24/7 to be completed within the president’s term, and would help create jobs.
“This Duterte administration will be a Golden Age for Infrastructure, building them 24/7. The thing is we really have to catch up with our neighbors,” Pernia said in a recent Palace press briefing.
Also, the Investment Coordination Committee guidelines on processing China-assisted projects were also approved during the NEDA board meeting.
The president earlier tapped the ICC to be the lead agency in screening Chinese companies interested in investing in the country to prevent any irregularities.
Pernia said the ICC will be cabinet-level and “will be the clearing house, the screening of applicant Chinese companies or Chinese companies interested in projects” to avoid a repeat of the NBN-ZTE deal and the NorthRail projects.
Pernia also said China agreed to establish a mechanism to “screen and accredit” Chinese companies that will be qualified to participate in investment projects.
The NEDA board likewise upheld the unbundling of previously approved airport projects but left to the Department of Transportation’s discretion on when to start the bidding process.
The Chico River Pump Irrigation Project, on the other hand, has been deferred by the NEDA board. The National Irrigation Administration was directed to reconfigure the project to include hydropower, and information on crops that could be profitably grown in the area based on the soil.
The post Duterte Okays P270-B Infra Projects appeared first on Manila Bulletin.
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