15 PH PPP projects crucial to ASEAN connectivity – World Bank

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15 PH PPP projects crucial to ASEAN connectivity – World Bank
World Bank’s Singapore Infrastructure Hub tags P495.84B worth of critical projects to help realize the master plan for ASEAN connectivity

MANILA, Philippines – Fifteen Philippine public-private partnership (PPP) projects worth close to P496 billion ($11 billion*)  are  essential infrastructure to realize the master plan for Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) connectivity, the World Bank said.

The World Bank’s Singapore Infrastructure Hub identified various airport, port, rail, and road projects in the Philippines that would directly link the Philippines with its ASEAN neighbors.

The list includes 8 airport projects involving their operations, maintenance, and redevelopment:

  • Davao Airport (P40.57 billion; $900.46 million)
  • Iloilo Airport (P30.4 billion; $674.73 million)
  • Bacolod Airport (P20.26 billion; $449.67 million)
  • Laguindingan Airport (P14.62 billion; $324.49 million)
  • Puerto Princesa Airport (P5.81 billion; $128.95 million)
  • San Fernando Airport (P8.1 billion; $179.80 million)
  • New Bohol Airport (P2.34 billion; $179.80 million)

The list also tags the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) as crucial to the regional connectivity.

The modernization of the Davao Sasa port (P18.99 billion; $421.21 million) is also tagged as essential by the World Bank list.

The road projects deemed critical as well are:

  • Plaridel Bypass Toll Road (P151.78 billion; $3.37 billion)
  • North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) East Expressway (P15.77 billion; $349.96 million)
  • Central Luzon Link Expressway-Phase II (P7.64 billion; $169.62 million)
  • Improvement, operation and maintenance of Kennon Road and Marcos Highway ($2.34 billion)

The P177.22-billion ($3.93-billion) North-South Commuter Railway (South line) and the operation and maintenance of the Light Rail Transit line 2 (LRT2) were also tagged as crucial by the multilateral lending agency.

Connectivity projects would reduce transportation cost in all segments thus improving the exchange of more goods and services, the World Bank said.

The new infrastructure projects would also facilitate faster and better travel to potentially boost local tourism, the World Bank added.

During the first ASEAN PPP Networking Forum in Manila in December 2014, the Philippine PPP Program was at the centerpiece among ASEAN member countries.

It was regarded as one of the most mature PPP programs in the region with established several policy and process improvements and developed pipeline of projects.

ASEAN countries that are now starting their PPP programs like Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam, also expressed their intent for future engagements with the PPP Center of the Philippines.

The Philippines has been ranked highest in terms of PPP readiness in the ASEAN region given its advanced legal and administrative structure, according to the Infrascope 2011 Study of the Economist Intelligence Unit commissioned by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

To date, 8 PPP projects were awarded by the government amounting to P127 billion and built a pipeline of over 50 projects.

At least 12 projects are currently under the procurement stage and 9 more are eyed to be rolled-out within 2015. – Rappler.com

 

$1 = P43.93

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