A total of 12 projects are set to be completed this year worth P35.261 billion. Another 17 projects are up for completion in 2022 worth P203.22 billion.

“We are investing in a wide range of infrastructure projects. They are not only roads or airports but also health facilities, also digital infrastructure. All of these are needed during this pandemic and our move to the new normal,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said in a recent statement.

Projects slated for completion this year include the P7.5 billion Flood Risk Management Project (FRIMP) in Cagayan, Tagoloan, and Imus Rivers; the P5.44-billion Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project; and the P4.798-billion Bicol International Airport Development Project.

Those set for completion next year are the P45.29-billion Southeast Metro Manila Expressway Project; P23.3-billion Nlex-Slex Connector Road; and the P20.31-billion Safe Philippines Project Phase I.

Meanwhile, a total of 51 IFPs worth P3.28 billion could be completed by the next administration in 2023 onward.

The next administration also has a pipeline of 28 projects that are still completing government approvals. These have a combined amount of P1.086 trillion.

The list of IFPs to be completed in 2023 and beyond include the P735.65-billion New Manila International Airport; P356.97- billion Metro Manila Subway Project Phase 1; and P175.318- billion Philippine National Railway (PNR) South Long Haul.

The pipeline includes the P177.856-billion Laguna Lakeshore Road Network Project; P112.264-billion C5 MRT 10 Project; and the P107.534-billion Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The pipeline of IFPs is mostly funded by Public Private Partnership (PPP) and only six are Official Development Assistance (ODA)-funded.

The ODA projects are the P5.96-billion Iconic Bridge Projects for Socio Economic DPWH Development to be funded by the United Kingdom and three funded by China; the P80.65-billion Davao City Expressway; P6.8-billion Panglao-Tagbilaran City Offshore Connector Bridge; and P998.7-Marawi Rehabilitation for the Bridge and Bypass Project and the Grand Padian Market and Sports Complex.

The Asian Development Bank, Korean government, and World Bank are said to be funding the P177.86-billion Laguna Lakeshore Road Network Project; P4.723-billion National Interoperable Automatic Fare Collection System Project (formerly Automated Fare Collection Clearing House); and P20-billion Agus-Pulangi Rehabilitation Project, respectively.

Funding source
Based on Neda data, of the 112 IFPs, a total of 54 worth P2.61 trillion will be funded through ODA.

Another 25 IFPs worth P186.24 billion will be funded through the national budget and 20 IFPs will be funded as unsolicited projects for PPP funding.

Another five IFPs will be funded through Supplemental Toll Operation Agreement (STOA) and PPP worth P148.43 billion while three projects will be funded by PPP worth P95.8 billion.

The data showed one project each will be funded by ODA and PPP worth P64.92 billion; National budget and PPP worth P26.62 billion; and national budget and ODA worth P28.27 billion. Only two projects worth P20.05 billion will be funded by the private sector.

Meanwhile, in terms of sector, Neda explained that the majority or 76 IFPs are on transport and mobility. These projects are worth P4.27 trillion.

Data showed 12 IFPs are for urban development worth P156.38 billion while another 10 are dedicated to water resources worth P106.03 billion.

A total of eight projects worth P84.89 billion are for Information and Communication Technology; four for health worth P46.44 billion; and two for power and energy worth P20.05 billion.

Changes
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) earlier reported there were 119 IFPs.

However, Neda explained that the 119 projects included the seven projects approved before the latest IFP list revision. These were removed because they have already been completed.

“The projects marked (with an asterisk) were part of previous lists of IFPs approved in 2017, 2019, and 2020, and are not considered part of the current list because they have already been completed. All projects completed before the next revision are no longer included in the succeeding list,” Neda documents stated.

This means that of the 112 IFPs, only four projects worth P86.82 billion have been completed by the Duterte administration.

These are the P65.39-billion Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3; P9.76-billion LRT 2 East Extension; the P5.947-Metro Manila Logistics Network: China Grant Bridges; and the P5.724-billion Metro Manila Logistics Network: Bonifacio Global City-Ortigas Center Link Road Project.

The seven projects that were completed prior to the revision of the list are the P18-billion New Clark City Phase 1; P14.97-billion Clark International Airport Expansion Project Phase 2; P3.29-billion Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project; and P1.436-billion Sangley Airport.

The list of projects also includes the Improvement of remaining sections along Pasig River from Delpan Bridge to Napindan Channel and Luzon Bypass Infrastructure Project worth P1 billion each; and the P244.88-million Pulangi 4 Selective Dredging Phase 3.

By CAI ORDINARIO, Business Mirror
June 21, 2021