NAIA, Panglao airports among NEDA Board-approved transport projects

NEDA Board approval
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The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board has approved six transportation projects, including the unsolicited proposals to rehabilitate and modernize the airports of New Bohol Panglao and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Approved are the Davao Public Transport Modernization project, unsolicited proposal for the New Bohol Panglao International Airport, unsolicited build-operate-transfer (BOT) proposal to rehabilitate NAIA, the Pasacao-Balatan Coastal Tourism Highway, the Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) project, and the Camarines Sur High-Speed Highway.

Modernization of Davao public transport involves the delivery of a modern, high-priority bus system for Davao City, wherein interconnected bus services will be prioritized along the 137-kilometer (km) core network and 489-km feeder routes.

The project includes three components: public transport system improvement, institutional capacity strengthening, and social development.

The proposed implementation schedule for the construction is 2020 to 2023.

The New Bohol Panglao International Airport project involves operating and maintaining the air gateway, including initial enhancement and installation of internal fit-outs of existing facilities, as well as optimizing and reconfiguring works to be undertaken by the concessionaire based on traffic demand.

Project proponent Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. earlier said it would spend around P27 billion on the airport upon takeover.

The unsolicited BOT proposal for NAIA, on the other hand, aims to address the capacity constraint of the Philippines’ main gateway by reconfiguring and renovating existing facilities and enhancing operation and maintenance (O&M) of the airport to accommodate more traffic and help alleviate the worsening air traffic congestion.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr), in a statement, said that with the Board’s approval, the NAIA Consortium can now proceed with the P102-billion proposed project, subject to a Swiss challenge.

NAIA Consortium is comprised of Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc; AC Infrastructure Holdings Corporation; Alliance Global Group, Inc.; Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corporation; Filinvest Development Corporation; JG Summit Holdings, Inc.; and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation.

Prior to the Swiss challenge, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), as the primary grantor, and the NAIA Consortium will first negotiate the terms and conditions of the concession agreement (CA) based on the parameters prescribed by the NEDA Board.

MIAA will then submit the results of the negotiation to the NEDA Board and the negotiated draft CA to the Office of the Solicitor General and the Department of Finance (DOF) for comments within 10 days of receiving the draft CA.

Thereafter, MIAA and NAIA Consortium will issue the certificate of successful negotiations and subsequently, the project will undergo a Swiss challenge where other firms may submit more competitive counter-proposals. If there are no submissions, the NAIA Consortium can then be awarded the contract and proceed with the project.

The P144.97-billion Pasacao-Balatan Coastal Tourism Highway, meanwhile, involves constructing a four-lane coastal tourism highway with a total length of 40.69 km along the west coast of Camarines Sur.

The proposed road will provide access to various tourism sites and provide a direct link between Pasacao and Balatan, traversing the municipalities of Minalabac, San Fernando and Bula. It will also involve the construction of 13 bridges crossing natural waterways located in the influence areas.

The project will be implemented from 2020 to 2023 and is expected to be opened by 2024.

The P23.04-billion SIDC project aims to provide a permanent road linkage between Davao City and the Island Garden City of Samal in order to reduce the travel time and reliability constraints currently being experienced through the use of ferry services.

Under the project, a toll-free four-lane (two lanes on each direction) bridge will be constructed having an approximate length of 2.80 km, a width of 24.2 meters, and a vertical clearance of 45 meters. Once finished, the bridge can serve around 25,000 vehicles a day.

The project will also include the construction of interchanges with the existing road network, local existing junction improvements, viaducts over sections of land and approach bridges over marine area.

SIDC will be implemented from 2020 to 2024, with construction scheduled from 2021-2024, and operation from 2025 onwards.

Lastly, the P9.23-billion Camarines Sur High-Speed Highway is intended to serve as an alternate route from Legazpi or Caramoan to Manila and vice versa. A 15.21-km, four-lane divided highway will be constructed connecting the municipalities of San Fernando and Pili in the province of Camarines Sur.

The project will have two interchanges/access ramps at entry/exit located in the municipalities of San Fernando and Pili; three bridges over major waterways, with flood proofing; six overpasses traversing existing structures; and 16 culverts traversing irrigation systems.

The high-speed highway intends to serve as an alternate route to motorists to increase travel speed in the project area through the adoption of high-standard highway specifications; resolve traffic congestion during peak seasons (e.g., festivities and summer months); and accelerate economic development in the province of Camarines Sur.

During the meeting, the NEDA Board also confirmed the Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee’s approval of the increase in cost and change in scope of the Mindanao Railway Project-Tagum-Davao-Digos Segment to P81.69 billion.

The NEDA Board also noted the earlier confirmation ad referendum of 20 projects from August 22 to October 9 this year. These include nine projects for the Department of Public Works and Highways, three for DOTr, three for DOF, and one project each for the Philippine Competition Commission, Department of Agriculture, Landbank of the Philippines, National Irrigation Administration, and Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System. It also approved the Department of Health’s P15.53-billion Development Objective Assistance Agreement for Improved Health for Underserved Filipinos.