MANILA, Sep. 6 — The government has approved five new projects in the transportation and energy sectors totaling P131.4 billion as it underscores the importance of improving the country’s infrastructure to sustain long-term economic growth.
In a statement on Saturday, Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said among the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) approved projects include the new passenger terminal building at the Clark International Airport, which will be built to meet its expansion requirements.
The project, which costs P15.3 billion, will allow Clark International Airport to accommodate up to three million passengers a year. It will be funded by the government and will include the installation of equipment, machineries and facilities.
The NEDA Board also approved the Naga Airport Development Project in Camarines Sur at a cost of P3.5 billion. It will be funded through the General Appropriations Act.
The airfield will be reoriented to enable dual-approach landing and takeoff and new airside and landside facilities will be established to meet the growing tourism demand.
The board also approved the P64.7 billion LRT Line 6 construction. LRT 6 is a 19-kilometer (km) elevated rail facility from the LRT Line 1 extension in Bacoor that will go southward through Imus and up to Dasmariñas along the Aguinaldo highway.
The project, which is expected to drastically cut travel time, is a public-private partnership (PPP) initiative.
To further expand the mass transport system for the metropolis, the LRT Line 4 will be built from EDSA Ortigas to Taytay City, on an elevated rail facility covering a distance of 11 km. The project will be financed through a PPP arrangement at an estimated total cost of P42.8 billion.
The Department of Energy’s Access to Sustainable Energy Program was also approved by the NEDA Board on Friday.
The P4.8-billion energy program provides grant assistance for solar home systems and rural power generation facilities, as well as technical assistance to the National Electrification Administration, the Energy Regulatory Commission, and electric cooperatives.
Focal point for capacity building is the development of pro-poor, disaster-resilient solutions.
The program will be partially funded by official development assistance from the European Union amounting to P2.82 billion. The balance will be sourced from the national budget. (PCOO/PND)
