DoTC targets completion of 12 transport projects by 2019

THE DEPARTMENT of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) is targeting to complete over P258-billion worth of infrastructure projects by 2019, in line with the target timeline for the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) P2.61-trillion Road map for Transport Infrastructure Development for Metro Manila and Its Surrounding Areas, known simply as the “Dream Plan”.

Transportation Spokesman Michael Arthur C. Sagcal said via text message on Sunday that the following projects are scheduled for completion from 2016 to 2019: the P30.40-billion Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of Iloilo Airport; the P40.57-billion O&M of Davao Airport; the P20.26-billion O&M of Bacolod Airport; the P5.23-billion O&M of Puerto Princesa Airport; the P15.92-billion Laguindingan Airport O&M; the P2.34-billion Enhanced O&M of the New Bohol (Panglao) Airport; the P64.9-billion Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite Extension; the P63.14-billion Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7); the P1.72-billion Automatic Fare Collection System; the P3.7-billion MRT-3 Capacity Expansion; the P9.7-billion LRT-2 Masinag Extension; and LRT-2 O&M.

“For our part in the Dream Plan, the DoTC’S mandate is to develop infrastructure which will help decongest traffic. Our rail projects will move commuters off of the roads and on to the rail systems,” said Mr. Sagcal.

JICA’s “Dream Plan” outlined a P520.44-billion short-term program for this year thru 2016 consisting of: P305.465-billion worth of expressways and roads; P178.823-billion worth of railways; P12.085-billion worth of sea ports; P11.368-billion worth of airports; P8.340 billion in bus systems; and P4.359 billion in traffic management projects.

Part of these initiatives are some of Transportation department’s projects, such as the MRT-3 Capacity Extension and LRT-2 Masinag Extension projects.

Pablito M. Abellera, who heads the Transportation Division of the National Economic and Development Authority’s inter-agency Infrastructure Committee, explained that an estimated 52% of the short-term program will be financed by a mix of official development assistance (ODA) and government funding, while the balance will consist of private sector investments.

“[F]or medium- and long-term projects amounting to about P2 trillion, a third of it will come from the private sector and the remaining is through the combination of government and ODA,” Mr. Abellera added.

The road map emphasizes the need to establish better north-south connectivity; a hierarchy of various transportation modes; planned and guided urban expansion to adjoining provinces through integrated public transport; the expansion of multi-modal public transport networks; and the strengthening of traffic management systems.

If the road map is implemented, JICA said it is expected to yield economic savings of P1.2 trillion a year starting 2030, public transport fare savings of P18 per person per day, travel time reduction by 49 minutes per person per trip, and additional toll and fare revenues of P119 billion annually. -- C.J.V. Dela Paz

source:  Businessworld