THE MOST EXPENSIVE public-private partnership (PPP) deal thus far, along with six other PPP projects, could secure final approval from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board in early February, senior officials said on Friday.
Rolando G. Tungpalan, NEDA deputy director general for Investment Programming, said in a text message that the NEDA Board, which is chaired by President Benigno S.C. Aquino III, could approve the “seven PPP projects and other two which were recently approved by ICC in the first or second week of February.”
Tabled for approval, among others, are the P378.33-billion Makati-Pasay-Taguig Mass Transit System Loop; the P179.22-billion North-South Railway Project (South Line); the P13.33-billion Motor Vehicle Inspection System (MVIS) Project; the expansion of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx), with a project cost still to be determined; the P1.16-billion Civil Registry System (CRS)-Information Technology (IT) Project Phase II; the Swiss challenge mode of implementation of the P18-billion 8-kilometer North Luzon Expressway (NLEx)-South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) Connector Road; and the rebidding of the P35.42-billion Cavite Laguna Expressway (CALAx), PPP Center Executive Director Cosette V. Canilao told reporters on the sidelines of an event in Makati City on Friday.
The rebidding of CALAx and the 8-kilometer NLEx-SLEx Connector Road were approved by the NEDA Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) Technical Board and Cabinet Committee last Dec. 22, while the five remaining PPP deals were approved on Jan. 14.
The P378.33-billion mass transit system loop is the most expensive project currently in the pipeline. Poised to become the country’s first subway system, it will link Bonifacio Global City, the Makati central business district and the SM Mall of Asia area in a bid to ease traffic congestion in the cities of Makati, Pasay and Taguig, according to the PPP Center Web site. The planned 20-kilometer (km) subway will consist of a 16-km tunnel, a 4-km elevated railway and 11 stations.
The P179.22-billion North-South Railway Project, meanwhile, is the second biggest PPP deal in the pipeline. It involves 89.7 kilometers (km) of tracks that will connect to the Philippine National Railways, the state railroad system.
The railway project, according to PPP Center Web site, will have two phases: the Malolos-Tutuban line, which will be funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, and the rehabilitation of the Tutuban-Calamba line under the PPP scheme. The second phase will involve an interchange station at Tutuban station.
Outside of the PPP, the Bureau of Fire Protection Capability Building Program Phase II project of the Department of Interior and Local Government and the P13.89-billion LRT Line 2 West Extension the Department of Transportation and Communications could also be approved by the NEDA Board in early February.
These two infrastructure deals were given the green light by the NEDA ICC Technical Board and Cabinet Committee on Jan. 14.
“Should all these projects be approved by the NEDA Board this February, the implementing agencies can start the bidding process, meaning publish the invitation to bid... this normally takes one month after the approval,” Ms. Canilao told reporters.
Eight PPP contracts have been awarded so far by the Aquino government since the late-2010 launch of this flagship infrastructure program: the P17.52-billion Mactan-Cebu International Airport Project; the P64.9-billion Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite Extension; the P1.72-billion Automatic Fare Collection System; the P2.01-billion Daang Hari-South Luzon Expressway Link Road; the P15.52-billion Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway; the P16.28-billion first phase of the PPP for School Infrastructure Project (PSIP); the PSIP’s P3.86-billion second phase; and the P5.69-billion Philippine Orthopedic Center modernization project. -- Chrisee Jalyssa V. Dela Paz
source: Businessworld
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