THE DEPARTMENT of Public Works and Highways has received an unsolicited proposal for a public-private partnership (PPP) project that will link Mindoro island to Batangas province via “floating bridge” worth around P53 billion, according to an official notice, but this will no longer be rolled out within the Aquino administration that ends on June 30 next year.

“The proposed project involves the construction of a super bridge that will link Mindoro island to the province of Batangas under the PPP framework considering the strong potential returns to the economy of the project and recognizing the indispensable increased private sector participation in the development of our country,” the department said in a notice posted on its Web site.

A 15-kilometer (km) bridge will cover the 8.5-km distance between Mindoro and Verde Island and another 6.5-km stretch will run between Verde Island and Batangas “over a 10- to 300-meter water depth.”

Project cost, using the Norway construction unit cost, was pegged initially at $75,000 per meter because the company that made the proposal is from that country, Public Works Secretary Rogelio L. Singson said in a mobile phone message yesterday.

“NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority has) already included the proposed Mindoro-Batangas Super Bridge in the list of priority projects,” the Public Works department said.

However, Mr. Singson clarified this will not be presented for the President’s final approval in case the NEDA Board meets this month, saying: “No, there is no feasibility study on the project yet.” Approval by the NEDA Board — led by President Benigno S.C. Aquino III — is the last regulatory hurdle before a PPP project is offered to potential partners from the private sector.

Asked if the project can still be rolled out before Mr. Aquino steps down on June 30, Mr. Singson said it is “impossible to start within or award” in the time left for this government.

Contracts for 11 PPP deals cumulatively worth some P193 billion have been awarded since the infrastructure program was launched in 2010’s third quarter.

30 November 2015
By Daphne J. Magturo