Business World, 28 January 2013

FOUR PROJECTS are in line for possible inclusion in the public-private partnership (PPP) list, with technical assistance having been approved by the agency in charge of the government’s centerpiece infrastructure program.

The PPP Center, in a statement, said the Project Development and Monitoring Facility (PDMF) board had approved the following:

• the Plaridel Bypass Toll Road under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH);

• Manila-Makati-Pasay-Parañaque Mass Transit System under the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC);

• Philippine National Railways (PNR) North and South Lines Development and Extension, also under the DoTC; and

• the Batangas-Manila Natural Gas Pipeline I of Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC).

The PDMF is a revolving fund managed by the PPP Center. Implementing agencies of PPP projects apply to the PDMF board for technical assistance regarding pre-investment activities such as the preparation of feasibility studies and procurement of transaction advisers.

The assistance aims to help agencies craft PPP proposals for submission to the National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee (NEDA-ICC), the first step in an approval process that includes concerned local government units, the ICC Technical Board, ICC Cabinet Committee and the NEDA Board.

“Our directive for this year is help implementing agencies to carry out what is dubbed as ambitious projects that will have a massive and positive impact on the country’s economy,” PPP Center Executive Director Cosette V. Canilao said.

The Plaridel Bypass Toll Road project involves the conversion of the Plaridel bypass, which the DPWH is currently building, into a toll highway. This will include road expansion and the construction of additional interchanges, flyovers and toll plazas, among others.

“Once constructed, the 24.61-kilometer toll road stretch will traverse five Bulacan municipalities, namely Balagtas, Guiguinto, Plaridel, Bustos, and San Rafael,” the PPP Center said.

The proposed Manila-Makati-Pasay-Parañaque Mass Transit System Project, meanwhile, seeks to provide a transport link between the Makati, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) complex and Manila Bay areas.

It will run from the C5/32nd St. roadway to Epifanio Delos Santos Ave. (EDSA)-Buendia-Makati Ave.-Ayala Triangle-Buendia, cross the PNR Buendia station and the Light Rail Transit-1 Buendia station to the CCP and the SM Mall of Asia, and then to EDSA-Ayala.

The North and South Lines Development and Extension project, meanwhile, seeks to upgrade the PNR’s railway system. It will cover the entire Mainline North and South lines, including the branch lines of Tarlac-San Jose in the north and Calamba-Batangas in the south.

“The PDMF-funded study will also look into possible extension of the north line to Cagayan. An important feature of the project is the plan to revive freight operations. This will provide a convenient, affordable and environment-friendly alternative transportation for people and their goods,” the PPP Center said.

Lastly, the Batangas-Manila Natural Gas Pipeline Project I involves a 105-kilometer transmission pipeline that will transport and supply natural gas to targeted markets located along its route from Batangas, Laguna and Cavite, and eventually to Metro Manila.

Included is the construction of a liquefied natural gas receiving plant and the installation of compressor and metering stations and control systems, among others.

This is part of the PNOC’s aim to develop the country’s natural gas industry and reduce its dependence on oil, the PPP Center said.