NEDA approves road, transportation projects
MANILA, Feb. 22 (PNA) — The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Cabinet Committee (Cabcom) has approved multi-billion peso road and transportation projects that would be funded by official development assistance (ODA).
The NEDA-Cabcom approved the P21.50 billion the Market Transformation through Introduction of Energy Efficiency Tricycle (E-Trike) Project, which will make 100,000 electricity-run tricycles to replace aging and two-stroke gasoline-fed units.
The E-Trike project targets local government units (LGUs) of Metro Manila, Boracay in Aklan, Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija and Davao City.
The E-Trike project would be partially funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), while the Department of Energy (DoE) is the implementing agency.
“The Philippines would benefit in the utilization of electric vehicles to reduce the country’s dependence on price-volatile petroleum fuels. It will also reduce the carbon footprint of the transport sector in Metro Manila and LGUs in the country,” Soecioeconomic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga Jr., said.
A carbon footprint is a measure of the amount of greenhouse gases produced daily by individuals through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation, etc.
The NEDA also approved the Bridge Construction Project for Expanded Agrarian Reform Communities (ARC) Development-Umiray Bridge, under the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). It covers construction of a 358-lineal meter bridge that will cross the Umiray River along the boundaries of Dingalan, Aurora and General Nakar, Quezon.
“The bridge will provide infrastructure support to agrarian reform beneficiaries and communities to help uplift their living conditions especially those in eleven barangays of Dingalan, Aurora and nineteen barangays General Nakar, Quezon,” said Paderanga.
The bridge project costs a total of P798.56 million, which will be implemented through grant assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). It is one of the two bridges, along with the Bazal Bridge, under the Bridge Construction Project for Expanded ARC Development.
In addition, the NEDA approved he Baler-Casiguran Road Improvement Project that seeks to improve road access within the province of Aurora.
The project involves completion of the road’s remaining 50.95 kilometers unpaved road out of the 116.37-kilometer Baler-Casiguran Road section.
“This road improvement project will also ensure interregional connectivity between Region II and III, promote tourism, and facilitate trading, commerce and delivery of local farm products within Aurora and to major market areas in Luzon,” said Paderanga.
The road completion will link the following municipalities of Aurora: Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Ma. Aurora, Baler, and San Luis. This will also connect Cagayan Valley road, Quirino, and Isabela to the province of Aurora through the existing Dinadiawan-Maddela-Cordon interprovincial road.
The project, which the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) spearheads, is being proposed for loan financing from the Korea Economic and Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF).
The last project that was approved by NEDA was the Samar Pacific Coastal Road, which will link the coastal towns of Northern and Eastern Samar and complements and completes the circumferential road loop for the province. The DPWH-proposed project has a total length of 27.75 kilometers.
“The Samar Pacific Coastal Road project will enhance the development of potential agricultural lands and fishing grounds of Northern and Eastern Samar and facilitate movement of goods and services through access to major arterial road links. This will push the area’s full economic potential and reduce its high poverty incidence,” Paderanga said.
The project, which is part of DPWH’s updated Public Investment Program (PIP) and the Comprehensive and Integrated Infrastructure Program (CIIP), will also be financed through Korea EDCF loan.
The ICC CabCom’s approval of the four ODA projects will be endorsed to the NEDA Board for its confirmation. (PNA)
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