P750-B up for infra projects

THE Department of Public Works and Highways on Thursday said that the government will spend about P750 billion for infrastructure projects.

Secretary Rogelio Singson of public works and highways in a statement said that the government will invest about P750 billion for infrastructure projects between 2011 and 2016 and is further boosted by existing Official Development Assistance of about P50 billion.

Singson added that the government is not solely banking on public-private partnership program [PPP] for its road network upgrading.
“We have major infra[structure] program on our regular budget such as the P430 million worth C-3 [G. Araneta Avenue]/Quezon Avenue Interchange Project which is set to start by July,” he said.

The DPWH chief added that PPP is an augmentation of the master development plan for Philippines national road network.
He also asked the general public to understand the temporary inconvenience as the construction will bring.

“We also seek for motorists cooperation in the traffic management plan and alternates routes formulated in coordination with Metro[politan] Manila Development Authority, Quezon City local government, and other stakeholders,” said Singson.

Moreover, under the road masterplan for the National Capital Region, DPWH is also focusing on the completion of Don Mariano Marcos Avenue Extension, the construction of flyover crossing Commonwealth Avenue which has some right of way issues to be addressed on both sides, and the Mindanao Avenue Extension.

“To speed up the provision of safe, efficient, adequate, reliable cost effective and sustainable infrastructure, the government has come up with high standard highway master plan covering Metro Manila and 200 radius outside Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Davao and General Santos Corridor,” Singson said.

The department also announced that that two road development projects under public-private partnership namely the Daang Hari-SLEx Link Project and NAIA Expressway Project Phase 2 are now under National Economic and Development Authority review and is expected for approval within this month of June.

Daang Hari-SLEx Link Project is a new 4 kilometer, 4-lane paved toll road that will pass through the New Bilibid Prison reservation that will connect Bacoor, Cavite to the South Luzon Expressway through Susana Heights while the NAIA Expressway Project Phase 2 with a total length of 5.2 kilometers.

It added that another government and private project is the NLEx-SLEx Connector Project.

Singson also said that at least 10,000 to 15,000 classrooms are planning to construct.

He said that the at least 60,000 classrooms were needed to create in the country. –Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz Reporter, Manila Times