THE national government aims to undertake P3.06-trillion worth of transportation projects under the updated list of the Duterte administration’s flagship projects.
Documents obtained by the BusinessMirror showed the amount covered 40 projects including railways, airports, bus rapid transit system, greenways and transportation-related technology projects, among others.
The largest flagship project in the transportation sector is the New Manila International Airport worth P735.634 billion, the unsolicited airport project proposed by San Miguel Corp.
Documents stated that the project is set to commence construction in six to eight months. The project is set to be completed by 2025.
A close second is the P628.42 billion North-South Commuter Railway Extension. The project involves the Philippine National Railway 2 and the PNR South Commuter.
The project is financed through Official Development Assistance (ODA) and is set to commence construction in six to eight months. The project will be completed by 2023.
Other big ticket transportation projects are: the P356.96 billion Metro Manila Subway Project Phase 1; the P175.3 billion PNR South Long Haul; the P149.13 billion North- South Commuter Railway, or PNR North 1; and the P101.85 billion Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) upgrade.
The Metro Manila Subway Project Phase 1 and PNR South Long Haul will commence construction in six to eight months, and will be completed by 2025 and 2023, respectively.
The North-South Commuter Railway is already ongoing and will be completed by 2022, while the Naia upgrade is already in “advance stages of government approval” and will be completed by 2024.
Earlier, the list of 100 infrastructure flagship projects was jointly approved by the Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee and the Committee on Infrastructure Cabinet Level Wednesday, November 6.
The flagship projects are now expected to cost P4.2 trillion. Of the hundred projects, around 26 will be implemented through PPP.
Presidential Adviser for Flagship Programs and Projects Secretary Vivencio B. Dizon assured that the government will not be tied to provisions, such as automatic rate increases and commitments of noninterference.
Dizon added there will also be no noncompete clauses, which will strip the government of its ability to require concessionaires to improve services.
These concessionaires, Dizon said, have been detrimental to public interest. Under the Duterte administration, such disadvantageous provisions will not be allowed.