P2-T infra projects offered to donors

[ Manila Bulletin Online ] March 27, 2008

Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director-General Augusto B. Santos presented to the donor community the updated Comprehensive Infrastructure Investment Program (CIIP) costing more than P2 trillion.

In his presentation at the Philippine Development Forum yesterday at Clark, Pampanga, Santos said the updated CIIP costing P2.06 trillion includes the following priority projects that may be offered for private financing: North Luzon East Expressway (NLEE) Project Stage 1 (P3.01 billion); Metro Manila Tollway (P38.87 billion); MRT Line 2 East Extension to Masinag (P11.52 billion); Panguil Bay Bridge (P2.80 billion); Operation & Maintenance of Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway Project (SCTEP); 300 MLD MWSS Bulk Water Supply Project (P5.20 billion); 50 MLD Wawa River Project (P1.95 billion); Power Capacity Requirements for Luzon Grid; Power Capacity Requirements for Visayas Grid; and Power Capacity Requirements for Mindanao Grid.

According to the NEDA chief, of the total CIIP requirements for 2007 until beyond 2010, some 28 percent or P575 billion will come from the private sector, 59 percent or around P1.2 trillion from the national government and 6 percent or P114 billion from government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs). Government financial institutions (GFIs) will shoulder 1.3 percent or P27 billion, local government units (LGUs), 0.38 percent or P8 billion, and other sources (such as grants, Universal Charge for Missionary Electrification, and Energy Regulation 1-94) will be tapped for 6 percent or P131 billion of the total investments.

On a sectoral basis, around 40 percent of the total requirement is allocated for transportation, 27 percent for power and electrification, and 18 percent for water resources. Social infrastructure will be allocated 10 percent while communications will get around 3 percent. About 2 percent will be used for the support of agrarian reform communities (ARCs), and another 2 percent for relending programs of GFIs.

He noted that a PDF working group (WG) on Infrastructure can help further efforts towards pushing infrastructure as a growth driver. It can also be a venue where discussions could translate to substantial contributions in terms of job and investment generation and facilitation of the advancement of other equally important sectors. We hope that with more investments in infrastructure, we can accelerate growth and translate this into social benefits, Santos said.
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