The National Economic and Development Authority board headed by President Rodrigo Duterte approved eight major projects Wednesday, including the P735.6-billion international airport project of San Miguel Corp. in Bulacan province.
The unsolicited project involves the construction, operation and maintenance of the Bulacan International Airport over an area spanning 2,500 hectares in the coastal town of Bulakan.
It will include a passenger terminal building, with airside and landside facilities and an 8.4-kilometer airport toll road.
Once completed, the airport is expected to accommodate 100 million passengers a year during its opening year. The unsolicited proposal has a project cost of P735.634 billion.
Bulakan, a first-class town, is located northwest of Obando and Valenzuela City and is only 35 kilometers north of Manila.
San Miguel’s proposal involves developing an “aerotropolis” on 1,168 hectares and a city complex on a 2,500-hectare area in Bulakan.
“We are pleased to see more infrastructure projects in the pipeline. As we roll them out, government shall keep working towards developing the country’s infrastructure to ensure easing of congestion in Metro Manila and spreading growth to the regions,” Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said during the 6th Neda board meeting at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on April 25.
The Neda board also approved the Subic-Clark Railway Project, a 71.13-kilometer railway that will connect Subic Bay Freeport Zone and Clark Freeport Zone to support current industrial activities and the potential demand for freight services along the Subic-Clark corridor.
The project, to be implemented by the Transportation Department and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, will cost P50.03 billion, of which P42.53 billion will be financed through official development assistance and P7.51 billion through local funds.
“This project is seen to help decongest Metro Manila traffic, provide infrastructure for the Metro Luzon Urban Beltway, and spur the development of a freight railway system for Luzon,” it said.
The Neda board also approved Clark International Airport Expansion Project’s operations and maintenance PPP concession under BCDA.
The O&M undertaking involves the competitive procurement of a technically qualified operator to undertake the necessary internal fit-out and provision of the necessary equipment and systems to complete, commission, operate and maintain the new CIA terminal. It has an estimated capital expense of P5.61 billion.
Other projects approved by the Neda board were the Ambal-Simuay River and Rio Grande de Mindanao River Flood Control Projects of the Public Works Department; the P27.368-billion Pasig-Marikina River and Manggahan Floodway Bridges Construction Project of DPWH; the P11.369-billion Bridge Construction Acceleration Project for Socioeconomic Development of DPWH; the Rural Agro-Enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth Project of the Trade Department; and the P1-billion Davao Food Complex Project of DTI and National Development Company.