Transpo, natural gas projects get pre-feasibility funds

MANILA, Philippines – The Project Development and Monitoring Facility (PDMF) Board approved 4 transportation and natural gas projects to obtain access to pre-feasibility funding this year. 

Under the PDMF, these projects will be assisted in pre-investment activities such as the preparation of feasibility studies, bid process management, and advisory services until financial close.

In a statement on Monday, January 28, the PPP Center said the 4 projects that were granted access to the fund are the:

• Plaridel Bypass Toll Road Project 
• Manila-Makati-Pasay-Paranaque Mass Transit System
• Philippine National Railways (PNR) North and South Lines Development and Extension
• Batangas-Manila Natural Gas Pipeline Project I (BatMan I) 

“Our directive for this year is help implementing agencies to carry out what is dubbed as ambitious projects that will have a massive and positive impact on the country’s economy,” PPP Center Executive Director Cosette V. Canilao said. 

Transport sector

The Plaridel Bypass Toll Road Project will convert the Plaridel bypass road into a toll highway, which will involve road expansion, construction of additional interchanges, flyovers, toll plazas and other miscellaneous works. 

The Plaridel bypass road is currently being constructed through the initiatives of the DPWH. Once constructed, the 24.61 km-road stretch will traverse 5 Bulacan municipalities, Balagtas, Guiguinto, Plaridel, Bustos, and San Rafael.

The Manila-Makati-Pasay-Paranaque Mass Transit System Project, on the other hand, is foreseen to interconnect the 4 cities starting from the C5-32nd Street roadway to EDSA-Buendia-Makati Avenue-Ayala Triangle-Buendia roads. 

It will cross the PNR Buendia Station, LRT 1 Buendia Station to CCP Complex and Mall of Asia to EDSA Ayala completing the loop up to Makati Ayala Triangle.

The PNR North and South Lines Development and Extension Project will upgrade the PNR railway systems. It will cover the entire PNR Mainline North and South Lines including branch lines of Tarlac-San Jose in the north, and Calamba-Batangas in the south.

“The PDMF-funded study will also look into possible extension of the north line to Cagayan. An important feature of the project is the plan to revive freight operations.This will provide a convenient, affordable and environment-friendly alternative transportation for people and their goods,” the PPP Center said. 

Natural gas

The PPP Center said the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) aims to develop the natural gas industry of the country by building a series of network pipelines in Luzon. 

This will be started through a 105-km transmission pipeline under the Batangas-Manila Natural Gas Pipeline Project I (BatMan I). It will transport and supply natural gas to targeted markets located along its route from Batangas, Laguna, Cavite and eventually to Metro Manila.

“Included in the project is the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving plant and the installation of compressor stations, metering stations, valves as well as control stations and SCADA systems,” the PPP Center said. 

The PDMF is a revolving fund managed by the PPP Center. The amount spent for projects’ pre-investment studies are reimbursed by the winning bidder to the PPP Center only after the project is awarded. – Rappler.com