MAY 21 (PND) — President Benigno S. Aquino III has given the green light for vital public infrastructure projects worth P63.5 billion, which would further spur economic development in key growth areas, Malacañang announced on Tuesday.
The President approved seven projects when he presided over the 17th meeting of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board at the Palace on Tuesday, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said.
Approved during the six-hour meeting was the Road Improvement and Institutional Development (RIID) Project, under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The P6.9-billion project involves the upgrading of 339 kilometers of 10 national roads in the provinces of Benguet, La Union, Leyte, Iloilo, Negros Oriental, Agusan del Norte, Bukidnon, and Cotabato.
Also approved was the project restructuring of the World Bank-funded National Roads Improvement and Management Program Phase 2, which requires P28.9 billion. The DPWH has proposed the restructuring and reallocation of US$60 million of the US$232 million World Bank loan to assist Local Government Units (LGUs) in expediting the rehabilitation of areas devastated by Typhoon Yolanda.
The President also gave the green light to the P2.6-billion Agno River Irrigation System Extension Project under the National Irrigation Administration; and the P13.4-billion second phase of the Balog-Balog Multipurpose Project, under the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization (OPAFSAM) and NIA. The latter involves the construction of a 105.5-meter high dam with a crest length of 1.473 kilometers and a storage capacity of about 420 million cubic meters, as well as irrigation canals and other structures.
He also approved the P10.1-billion LRT2 West Extension Project under the Department of Transportation and Communications. This involves the design and construction of the extension for the existing LRT Line 2, measuring approximately 3.02 kilometers from the Recto station extending westward to the Pier 4 area. It includes the turnback track with three proposed additional stations – the Tutuban Station, Divisoria Station, and Pier 4 Station.
The Chief Executive also approved the P1.4-billion second phase of the Bureau of Fire Protection Capability Building Program, under the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), which involves the acquisition of 76 fire trucks to be deployed in selected priority cities nationwide.
He also green-lighted the P231-million Local Government Units Investment Program Supplement III, which will finance LGU investments in local roads and bridges; sanitation; drainage and flood control; water supply; public market; bus terminal; the rehabilitation, modernization, and construction of public facilities; hospitals; schools; telecommunications; information technology; ports; the construction and establishment of power generation projects; environment and tourism-related projects; and heavy equipment.
The program also includes revenue improvement and enhancement programs for LGUs.