The government said Tuesday it will speed up the construction of four infrastructure projects aimed at decongesting traffic in Metro Manila.
Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia told reporters during a press briefing the the National Economic and Development Authority would expedite the approval and implementation of four of the country’s major infrastructure projects.
Pernia said the four included the immediate implementation of the Bonifacio Global City-Ortigas link bridge, which is expected to divert 25 percent of the traffic congestion in Edsa.
“That is an additional bridge to what we have now on the east side of Metro Manila. There’s a bridge there, the C-5. So we need another one to add road space from those traveling between the two parts of the Pasig, the two parts of Metro Manila that is cut by the Pasig River,” Pernia said.
He said the government was looking at the possible early resolution of the common station for MRT 3, LRT 1 and MRT 7.
“The Department of Public Works and Highways will hand the final configuration of the station to the Department of Transportation,” Pernia said.
Another solution is the use of provincial ports in the country, such as Batangas and Subic ports, to ease congestion in Manila.
Earlier, the Neda-Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee identified over P320 billion worth of infrastructure projects set to be implement under the new administration.
These projects are the North-South Railway Project–South Line; Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project for the Philippine Coast Guard Phase II; Metro Manila Bus Rapid Transit-EDSA; Plaridel Bypass Toll Road Project; Metro Manila Flood Management Project, Increase in Passenger Terminal Building Area of the Bicol International Airport Project;
Change in Scope of the New Bohol Airport Construction and Sustainable Environment Protection Project; Modernization of the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center; Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital; and the Inclusive Partnerships for Agricultural Competitiveness..
Pernia clarified that the timeframe set to expedite the implementation of projects ddi not depend on the approval of the emergency powers for President Duterte.
“Even without the emergency powers, we are going to work on, we are going to make sure that work on major infrastructure projects will be round-the-clock, so 24/7. No let up,” Pernia said.
