UNVEILS P500B INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM
MANILA, OCTOBER 8, 2011 (MALAYA) BY GENIVI
FACTAO -Transport Secretary Mar Roxas (photo) yesterday unveiled a P500 billion
infrastructure program to be implemented during the term of President Aquino
which he said will spur economic activity in the countryside.
Roxas, speaking before the Makati Business Club, said included in the program
is the pursuit of the Chinese-backed NorthRail project.
"We are reconfiguring this project after our productive discussion with top
Chinese officials during our recent trip there with the President. We want to
rewrite the lopsided contract to our mutual advantage. Instead of just a train
that will run from Kalookan to Mabalacat in Pampanga, we want this to stretch
out from Metro Manila to Clark. We are resolved to get the biggest bang out of
every peso spent – no overprice, no fancy specs that we don't need," he said.
He said the Department of Transportation and Communications will similarly
pursue the speedy and just resolution of past infrastructure projects that
"simply did not fit standards of a sound deal, either by dint of corruption or
technical fault".
Roxas said he has installed a solid and competent team at DOTC to resolve
problem contracts entered into by the previous government.
With this team, he expects the legal remediation of the NAIA Terminal 3 issue
to proceed based on fair international standards of commercial settlement.
He said officials will also be meeting with building contractor Takenaka
Corp. of Japan for the completion of the NAIA Terminal 3.
Among the major projects Roxas presented in the briefing were the 11.7 km LRT
1 Baclaran to Cavite and the LRT 2 Santolan, Pasig to Masinag, Antipolo
extension rail projects; international airports in Puerto Princesa, Laguindigan
in Misamis Oriental and Panglao in Bohol; ports in Davao, and the roll-on,
roll-off (Ro-Ro) projects linking China with either the Subic or Batangas ports.
Of the P500 billion total project cost, the LRT 1 Cavite Extension will
account for P79 billion, of which P48.24 billion will be for the superstructure
and P30.7 billion for rolling stocks.
The NAIA upgrade which involves full operation of Terminal 3 and operational
improvement of Terminals 1 and 2 will cost about P2 billion.
He said the central Ro-Ro spine calls for an integrated transportation system
combining the Ro-Ro ferry port network with new toll roads linking Manila,
Panay, Negros, Cebu, Bohol and Northern Mindanao.
"It will reduce overall travel time of passengers from Manila to Mindanao
from three days to 15 hours. It will take off in Batangas port and will create
more traffic volume in that port, which is currently underutilized" he said.
He encourages MBC members to participate in government projects through
public-private partnership (PPP).
"If they know already that there will be an airport in a place, of course,
they will invest in business in the area and that will bring multiplier effect
and growth," he said.
Some of the projects could be financed through official development
assistance (ODAs).
All these projects, according to Roxas, will adhere to President Aquino's 5Rs
– Right project, Right quality, Right people, Right cost, and Right on time.
He also assured a regime of maritime transport safety during his watch,
through investments in satellite-based signaling systems and other technologies
to make sea travel safer.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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