Public-Private Partnership Center

Source: NEDA, 21 May 2012

The Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board recently approved five projects on transportation, infrastructure and health worth PhP32.67 billion. These projects aim to build and rehabilitate vital infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and hospitals to improve the delivery of basic services and movement of trade.

First of these five projects is the Light Railway Transit (LRT) Line 2 East Extension Project that involves the design and construction of a 4.19-kilometer extension from the existing Santolan Station to Masinag Junction (intersection of Marcos Highway and Sumulong Highway). Two stations will be located at Emerald Drive, Cainta, Rizal (in front of Robinson’s Place Metro East) and Masinag Junction, Antipolo City, Rizal.

“The project will provide rapid and reliable mode of transit to the east of Manila and to various strategic commercial, industrial and educational districts in Metro Manila,” NEDA Deputy Director-General Rolando G. Tungpalan said.

The total length of the LRT Line 2 will be around 16.75 kilometers upon completion of the extension. The project’s total approved cost is PhP9.76 billion, an amount to be entirely financed by its proponent, the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC).

“This project aims to reduce the use of motorized vehicles that contribute to both air and noise pollution,” he added.

Also, a public-private partnership (PPP) project, the Modernization of the Philippine Orthopedic Center (POC) was approved by the ICC CabCom. This project involves construction of 700-bed capacity tertiary orthopedic hospital within the National Kidney and Transplant Institute Complex along East Avenue, Quezon City.

“There is a need to upgrade the facilities and enhance the operational efficiency of the POC. This addresses the challenge of transforming it into the country’s primary center for bone and joints disease that will be at par with global standards,” Tungpalan said.

The project, with an approved cost of PhP5.69 billion, also comprises the supply, installation, operations and management of modern diagnostics equipment and IT facilities, as well as the operation and maintenance of the entire facility. The project’s proponent is the Department of Health (DOH).

Another ICC CabCom-approved project is the Upgrading and Rehabilitation Project of the Navotas Fish Port Complex (NFPC) that will improve the port’s facilities and services and facilitate unloading, handling and distribution of fish and fishery products. The NFPC is one of the National Capital Region’s (NCR) major fish landing facility that contributes an annual average of 80 percent to the region’s total fish supply.

“The project fulfills the government’s goal of raising productivity and incomes of fishery-based household through improving infrastructure. This also increases investments and employment in the region,” the NEDA official said.

Specifically, the project covers the upgrading of the landing quay and market halls; establishment of cold storage facilities; conversion of piers to wharf landing; installation of a waste water treatment facility, among others. It has an approved cost of PhP2.70 billion, which will be implemented by the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Furthermore, the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) Bridge Construction Acceleration Project for Calamity-Stricken Areas Phase II was also approved. The project, which will be continually funded by the Government of Austria, involves the construction and replacement of 66 temporary bridges with steel structures across the country’s 15 regions.

“This project will provide reliable, safe, and continuous transport service that will reduce travel distance and time, and transport costs of passengers and goods,” Tungpalan said. “Most importantly, municipalities that are often hit by natural calamities will directly benefit from the replacement and construction of these bridges,” he added.

This project, with an approved cost of PhP6.12 billion, will aid the government’s target of building 7,958 permanent bridges by the end of 2016.

Adding to the bridge projects approved by the ICC CabCom is the National Roads Bridge Placement Project (NRBRP) that will be funded by the Government of United Kingdom (GUK). This also involves the construction and replacement of 133 bridges across the country and will utilize pre-fabricated double lane modular steel bridges from the UK.

“The NBRBP is responsive to the infrastructure goals of the Plan and is expected to increase transport access to basic services and economic opportunities,” said Tungpalan. The project’s approved cost is PhP8.4 billion and will be implemented by the DPWH.

The ICC CabCom’s approval of these five projects will be endorsed to the NEDA Board for its confirmation.

The NEDA Board, chaired by President Benigno S. Aquino III, is the country’s highest development planning and policy coordinating body. It comprises various Cabinet Secretaries, the President of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), the Governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the Deputy Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

The ICC, which is one of the seven interagency committees of the NEDA Board, evaluates the fiscal, monetary and balance-of-payments implications of major national projects. The ICC’s powers and functions reside in its CabCom, which is headed by the Secretary of Finance. The ICC is supported by an interagency Technical Board, with NEDA as ICC Secretariat.

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