By Riza Recio
05/12/2008 [ tribune.net.ph ]
Malacañang has dropped the Department of Public Work and Highways (DPWH) from the proposed Daang Hari toll road project that would link Cavite to the Southern Luzon Expressway (SLex), in favor of the government investment-arm National Development Co. (NDC).
NDC chair and Trade and Industry secretary Peter Favila told reporters in an interview that it was President Arroyo who instructed DPWH secretary Hermogenes Ebdane to transfer the project to NDC through build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme.
President Arroyo’s decision was made in a close meeting with Favila and Ebdane that took place early this month.
Ebdane, on the other hand, gave his go signal and readily agreed to transfer the project to NDC, Favila added.
Asked if NDC has to raise additional money to fund the proposed tollway project, Favila explained that funding will be shouldered by the winning bidder.
“It is the best way, if we let the private sector do it, if we can have a toll the way Lopezes did in North Luzon.” Favila said.
Earlier, the government estimates to spend P1.2 billion to connect Daang Hari in Cavite to SLex. The C-6 road will run for four kilometers passing through the New Bilibid Prison site in Muntinlupa City.
Ayen Infante
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