THE Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center is now preparing pre-investment studies for 10 new projects.
Only three of the 10 projects currently have cost estimates: the P8.1-billion ($180-million) San Fernando Airport; the P166.63-billion ($3.7-billion) North-South Railway Project (NSRP); and the P135-billion ($3-billion) Mass Transit System Loop.
The San Fernando Airport will serve as a regional airport that can accommodate direct flights to La Union, Baguio and other tourist spots in the region.
The private partner will upgrade and expand the airport through the removal of obstructions like hills, trees, transmission lines; expansion of existing parking areas; and construction of a new terminal building, a new fire stub taxiway and a new apron, among others.
The NSRP will run from Metro Manila to Legazpi City, Albay, plus a number of existing and proposed branch lines totaling approximately 653 kilometers.
It consists of commuter-railway operations between Tutuban and Calamba and long-haul railway operations between Tutuban and Legazpi, including extended long-haul rail operations on the branch line between Calamba and Batangas and extension between Legazpi and Matnog.
“Currently, the NSRP has a narrow-gauge railway. However, extensive rehabilitation and reconstruction is needed for bridges and road crossings to bring it to safe operating condition,” the PPP Center said.
Meanwhile, the Mass Transit System Loop will connect Bonifacio Global City, Makati Central Business District to the Mall of Asia area in Pasay City. The proposed new rail line has a route length of approximately 12 km.
It aims to reduce the volume of vehicular traffic in some of Metro Manila’s major growth areas by providing a higher capacity mass-transit system.
The private partner will undertake the financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of the mass-transit system.
“It will run mostly underground with some elevated sections, making it the first subway in the country,” the PPP Center said.
On the other hand, the other seven projects include Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 Extension to Dasmariñas Project; the Batangas -Manila (Batman) 1 Natural Gas Pipeline; the Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake (Mapalla) Ferry System Project; and the C-5 Transport Development Project.
The list also includes the Clark International Airport operated and managed by Clark International Airport Corp. (Ciac); the Integrated Transport System Project-North; and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Development Project.
The LRT Line 1 Extension to Dasmariñas will further extend the LRT Line 1 covering approximately 15 km of service line which will start at the LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension Project terminal in Bacoor extending to Dasmariñas, Cavite.
The Batman 1 project will transport and supply natural gas to targeted markets in the high-growth areas of Batangas, Laguna, Cavite and Metro Manila delivered through approximately 110 km of transmission pipelines from Batangas to Metro Manila.
The Mapalla Project involves the development of a ferry system that would traverse Manila Bay, Pasig River, Marikina River and Laguna Lake.
“Phase 1 of the project will cover the Pasig and Marikina Rivers, while Phase 2 will look into a possible extension of ferry services into Laguna Lake and Manila Bay,” the PPP Center said.
The C-5 Transport Development Project involves the implementation of a new bus scheme similar to a Bus Rapid Transit System that will offer high-quality bus service.
It aims to improve the connectivity among the cities of Parañaque, Taguig, Makati, Quezon City and Valenzuela, through a modern bus-based public-transport system.
In terms of the Ciac project, the private partner will undertake the operation and maintenance of the entire airport, including the existing terminal, budget terminal and airside facilities for a defined concession period.
The ITS project will involve the construction of mass-transportation intermodal terminal in the north of Edsa that will maximize road usage by reducing vehicle volume and improving traffic flow along Metro Manila’s major thoroughfares.
Lastly, the Naia development project aims to improve, upgrade and enhance the operational efficiencies of all existing terminals of the airport covering both landside and airside (except air traffic services), to meet the International Civil Aviation Organization standards and develop the main gateway airport of the Philippines.