The Aquino administration will no longer be approving big-ticket projects this year, as it has moved the next National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Board meeting to mid-January next year, or after the visit of Pope Francis.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and Neda Director General
Arsenio M. Balisacan told reporters in a briefing on Tuesday that the holiday break and preparation for the pope’s visit will make it difficult to conduct a Neda Board meeting in the remainder of the year.
The board is the highest policy-making body of the Neda and is tasked with the approval of major government projects. It is chaired by the President.
“We hope to have one after the pope’s visit next year. Hopefully, within the first half of next month, we could have [a Neda Board meeting],” Balisacan said.
However, Balisacan and Public- Private Partnership (PPP) Center Executive Director Cosette V. Canilao told reporters that a meeting of the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC)-Cabinet Committee (Cabcom) is scheduled on Friday.
Canilao said the projects to be
discussed in the ICC-Cabcom include eight PPP projects, including the
revised project details for the P19.23-billion Motor-Vehicle Inspection
System and changes in the P35.4-billion Cavite-Laguna Expressway.
The PPP Center official said the list also includes the bid parameters for the North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway connector.
The ICC-Cabcom will also discuss new projects, such as the P177.22-billion North-South Commuter Railway and the P374.5-billion Makati-Pasay-Taguig Mass Transit System Loop Project, which is the country’s first subway project.
Other projects to be discussed
include the P400-million Tanauan City Public Market and the P1.16-billion Civil Registry System-IT project.
The ICC-Cabcom will also revisit the first phase of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway project due to a variation in its contract.
These projects will form part of the PPP pipeline of projects next year. Canilao said this includes the Ninoy Aquino International Airport redevelopment project and the extension of the Light Rail Transit Line 1.
“We [will] continue to develop projects for the various implementing agencies,” Canilao added.
Currently, the PPP pipeline
includes 51 projects worth at least $21.97 billion. These projects are in various stages of development and the total amount does
not include projects that do not have cost estimates as of
December 15. The PPP Center said 12 projects worth $6.36 billion are undergoing procurement, and 12 other projects, which do not have costs yet, are being developed.
Around 11 projects, which also do not have cost estimates to date, are undergoing project studies. Data showed that consultants are being procured for eight projects. Four other projects worth $13.48 billion are seeking government approval.
Two projects worth $1.54 billion have been approved for rollout and two projects worth $596.69 million are unsolicited.
To date, the PPP Center has already awarded eight projects worth $2.83 billion. Two projects worth $2.13 billion are currently under implementation.