To boost the country’s maritime capability, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board approved the P29.3-billion Phase 3 of the Philippine Coast Guard’s Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project.
Speaking after a meeting on high-impact infrastructure on Thursday, NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan confirmed the improvement plan of the PCG, citing that the project would be financed through Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan.
“This project involves the design, construction, and delivery of five units of multi-role response vessels or MRRVs, each with a length of 97 meters. This project also includes a five-year integrated logistics support,” Balisacan said at a Palace briefing.
President Marcos chairs the NEDA Board.
The improvement would bolster PCG’s capabilities to combat illegal activities and enforce maritime laws in the country’s territorial waters, Balisacan added.
He said that ships could also be used for the rotation and resupply (RoRe) missions however, he clarified that the vessels would not be used for military purposes but rather for enhancing PCG’s communication systems. Charles Dantes
TPLEX Extension Project
Moreover, Balisacan also revealed the approval of the revised parameters, terms, and conditions, or PTCs of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) Extension Project as recommended by the Investment Coordination Committee of the NEDA Board.
Approved in June this year, the project involves a 59.4-kilometer toll road, which will connect from the last exit of TPLEX in Rosario, La Union, and will terminate in San Juan, La Union.
Following the approval, the DPWH will proceed with the publication of the invitation for comparative proposals by the Revised 2022 Build-Operate-Transfer Law Implementing Rules and Regulations, as well as the ICC Guidelines on Processing PPP proposals.
Balisacan assured the public the administration remained committed to bolstering the country’s infrastructure and connectivity.
“The Marcos administration remains steadfast in its dedication to enhancing connectivity, ramping up employment-creating investments, and significantly improving living standards for every Filipino by ensuring the efficient implementation of these high-impact projects,” Balisacan said.
