At least three proposed infrastructure projects of note have been reported in several media outlets this month.
The three multi-billion projects are challenging but they are not impossible to build.
Some of our Asian neighbors now have advanced economies because of world-class infrastructure.
Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore achieved economic progress over time through the pursuit of mega infrastructure projects.
There is no reason why the Philippines cannot copy the model of these Asian economic powerhouses.
The Philippines early this month disclosed that it was seeking a $1-billion loan from the Manila-based Asian Development Bank to finance the planned mass transport system that will run from San Juan City to Taytay in Rizal province.
The 15.56-kilometer Metro Rail Transit Line 4 project would be a fully-elevated railway mass-transit system serving the eastern side of Metro Manila and the highly-populated areas of Rizal. Every commuter knows that traffic along Ortigas Avenue from San Juan, Mandaluyong and Pasig City to Cainta, City of Antipolo and Taytay is notoriously heavy.
Substantial underinvestment in infrastructure, in the words of the ADB, has led to chronic capacity constraints in the transport sector, resulting in economic losses due to road congestion… “making Metro Manila one of the most dense and congested natural cities in the Asian region.”
The rail project aims to reduce travel time from San Juan to Taytay, Rizal to just 27 minutes from one to three hours.
More importantly, this Mega Manila corridor will experience higher economic growth and further urban development with less road congestion.
The two other infrastructure projects are the Cavite-Batangas expressway project proposed by San Miguel Corp. and the $11-billion Sangley Point Airport Project offered by Cavitex Holdings Inc. and the Yuchengo Group.
San Miguel’s 27.06-kilometer toll road stretching from the municipalities of Silang, Amadeo, Tagaytay, Indang, Mendez and Afonso in Cavite to Nasugbu, Batangas will significantly reduce travel time and ease the flow of produce and goods to and from these areas. As in other infrastructure projects, the toll road will create jobs and other economic opportunities in the two provinces.
The Sangley airport project, meanwhile, will decongest Ninoy Aquino International Airport and revitalize the country’s tourism industry.
Its proponents hope to create 50,000 jobs and make the new airport a catalyst project to bring in foreign direct investment and promote trade and economic development as well.
Infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, airports, seaports and rails provide the modern landscape for a developing economy.
They also serve as the blueprint for alleviating poverty in the Philippines.