Press Release
28 January 2013
For its opening salvo this 2013, the Project Development and Monitoring Facility (PDMF) Board approved four big-ticket projects proposed to be undertaken using the public-private partnership scheme, including the Plaridel Bypass Toll Road Project under the banner of the Department of Public Works and Highways; the Manila-Makati-Pasay-Paranaque Mass Transit System, and the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Integrated Luzon Railway Project under the Department of Transportation and Communications; and the Batangas-Manila Natural Gas Pipeline Project I (BatMan I) of the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC).
According to PPP Center Executive Director Cosette V. Canilao, these projects are exactly what the economic managers of the Aquino Administration indicated that government should prioritize for 2013. “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,” the PPP Center Chief reported.
Transport sector development
The Plaridel Bypass Toll Road Project entails the conversion of the Plaridel bypass road into a toll highway, which will involve road expansion, construction of additional interchanges, flyovers, toll plazas and other miscellaneous works. The Plaridel bypass road is currently being constructed through the initiatives of the DPWH. Once constructed, the 24.61 km-road stretch will traverse 5 Bulacan municipalities, namely: Balagtas, Guiguinto, Plaridel, Bustos, and San Rafael.
The Manila-Makati-Pasay-Paranaque Mass Transit System Project is foreseen to interconnect the 4 cities starting from the C5-32nd Street roadway to EDSA-Buendia-Makati Avenue-Ayala Triangle-Buendia roads, crossing the PNR Buendia Station, LRT 1 Buendia Station to CCP Complex and Mall of Asia to EDSA Ayala completing the loop up to Makati Ayala Triangle.
The long-overdue development and upgrade of the PNR railway systems will fall under the DOTC’s proposed PNR Integrated Luzon Railway Project. It will cover the entire PNR Mainline North and South Lines including 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 transportationfor people and their goods.
Building pipelines for natural gas
With the aim of reducing the country’s dependence on oil, the PNOC is also gearing to ramp up its plan to develop the natural gas industry of the country by building a series of network pipelines in Luzon. Initially, A 105-km transmission pipeline under the Batangas-Manila Natural Gas Pipeline Project I (BatMan I) will be constructed to transport and supply natural gas to targeted markets located along its route from Batangas, Laguna, Cavite and eventually to Metro Manila.
Included in the project is the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving plant and the installation of compressor stations, metering stations, valves as well as control stations and SCADA systems.
These PPP projects are expected to address the country’s economic, energy and environmental challenges. Sustainability and viability of said projects will be ensured by tapping the vast resources and expertise of the private sector.
Under the PDMF, these projects will be assisted in pre-investment activities such as the preparation of feasibility studies, bid process management, and advisory services until financial close.
