The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board is set to approve this month 12 big-ticket projects, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said on Friday.
The list, which includes the Mindanao Railway system and the Cavite Industrial Area Flood Management Project, comprises both new projects and old ones with modified funding schemes or designs.
The P31.544-billion initial phase of the Mindanao Railway — which is expected to serve over 100,000 passengers daily — will connect Tagum, Digos and Davao cities over a 105 kilometer (km) segment of the planned 2,000 km Mindanao Railway which will also connect Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Iligan, Surigao and Zamboanga cities.
“In total there will be 12 projects for submission to the board either because of modification in funding and cost estimates and alignment for new projects,” Mr. Pernia told reporters at the sidelines of the Philippine Development Plan 2017 Launch in Pasay City.
The NEDA Board meeting has been scheduled for June 26.
Other projects approved by the NEDA Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee on Thursday include the $2.7-billion commuter line of the South line of the North-South Railway Project that will run between Metro Manila and Legaspi City, Albay; as well as the planned $1.9-billion high-speed passenger line that will extend the North-South Commuter Railway planned between Metro Manila and Malolos, Bulacan to the soon-to-rise Clark Green City, according to Rolando G. Tungpalan, NEDA undersecretary for Investment Programming.
“We will also submit three policy proposals having to do with streamlining the NEDA Board participation. Instead of 22 secretaries, we’re going to limit it to six or seven so that it will be easier to call and have a quorum,” Pernia said.
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