NEDA Board panel approves new infra projects

The Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CabCom) of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board approved new infrastructure projects during a meeting last week.

In a statement on Tuesday, NEDA said the ICC-Cabcom approved on March 8 the Ambal-Simuay River and Rio Grande de Mindanao River Flood Control projects, Manggahan Floodway of the Department of Public Works and Highways, and 10 priority bridges spanning Pasig-Marikina River.

These are among the 75 flagship infrastructure projects of the Duterte administration.

“The flood control projects in Mindanao will be funded through China ODA (official development assistance), the 10 bridges along Pasig-Marikina River will be financed through GAA (general appropriations act,” Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno told GMA News Online.

The Mindanao flood control projects are expected to cost P39.2 billion and would involve constructing various flood management infrastructures such as dikes and floodgates along the Ambal-Simuay and Rio Grande de Mindanao, which are parts of the Mindanao River Basin—the second largest river basin in the country.

The the 10 priority bridges crossing Pasig-Marikina River and Manggahan Floodway are expected to improve road transport network capacity and efficiency in Metro Manila by adding fix links and alternate routes. All the bridges will cost P27.37 billion to build.

The Binondo-Intramuros and Estrella-Pantaleon Bridges, with an estimated cost of P5.98 billion, were confirmed by the NEDA Board on September 12, 2017. The first two bridges will be funded by a grant from the Chinese government.

The other projects will still be elevated to the NEDA Board, chaired by President Rodrigo Duterte, for confirmation. —Ted Cordero/VDS, GMA News