Neda ICC approves cost hikes worth P4.7B

for three projects

By Cai U. Ordinario

DESPITE the government’s plans to manage the cost overruns incurred by projects implemented by line agencies and government-owned and -controlled corporations, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Investment Coordination Committee (ICC)-Cabinet Committee (CabCom) has again approved cost increases for three projects implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

In a statement, the Neda said the ICC-CabCom endorsed for approval as much as P4.7 billion in cost increases for the Arterial Road Links Development Project (ARLDP) IV, the Cordillera Road Improvement Project (CRIP) and the Arterial Road Links Development Project (ARLDP) V.

The Neda said the DPWH proposed to increase the cost of ARLDP IV by more than half, or 53.6 percent, of the cost to P9.434 billion from P6.141 billion and CRIP by 33.8 percent to P3.069 billion from P2.294 billion.

The DPWH also proposed an increase in the cost of the ARLDP V by 17 percent to P4.621 billion from P3.950 billion, as well as an adjustment in scope reducing the seven contract packages to six.

“The three road projects incurred a cost increase amounting to P4.7 billion. The increases were due to higher bids results compared with the approved budget for contract, among others,” the Neda said.

The ICC-CabCom then urged the DPWH to submit the manuals on road-construction management and maintenance inspections and training and accreditation for construction project managers/engineers and quality-assurance units as soon as possible before the year ends.

Meanwhile, the Neda ICC-CabCom also endorsed for approval the P16.165-billion Tulay ng Pangulo project, which involves the construction, installation and establishment of 418 bridges in areas covered by the Comprehensive agrarian-reform program  and in priority Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs).

The Neda said 89 percent, or P14.447 billion, of the total project cost will be financed via Banque Nationale de Paris Paribas, through a combination of French Export Credit and tied commercial loan, while the Philippine government will shoulder the remaining 11 percent, or P1.718 billion.

The project will be implemented over a five-year period starting from the third quarter of this year up to 2012. Around five ARC bridges are expected to be built this year.

The Department of Agrarian Reform is the executing agency for the project and is responsible for the selection and prioritization of the ARC bridge sites, which will be subjected to economic viability analysis, and will be recommended to the President for approval, while the DPWH will undertake construction and installation.

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Neda ICC approves cost hikes worth P4.7B for three projects

DESPITE the government’s plans to manage the cost overruns incurred by projects implemented by line agencies and government-owned and -controlled corporations, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Investment Coordination Committee (ICC)-Cabinet Committee (CabCom) has again approved cost increases for three projects implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

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