Sec. Cerge Remonde's Column (Apr 15 2008)

Infra updates 15 April 2008	.


At the 4th Regular Meeting of the Pro-Performance System Steering Committee, the status of 149 priority infrastructure projects as of end March 2008 was extensively discussed. Of course, these priority projects are just a small though very significant portion of the over 2,000 projects included in the Comprehensive Infrastructure Investment Program (CIIP) of the Government. The Steering Committee is composed of representatives from a broad range of interests, with Amb. Donald Dee of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) representing the business sector; Rev. Fr. Anton Pascual of Caritas Manila for the Religious; Mr. Ruperto "Jun" Nicdao of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) for media; Dr. Vincent Fabella of Jose Rizal University representing the academe and NGOs; Mr. Richard Alvin Nalupta of the National Youth Commission for the Youth; Mayor Ramon Guico of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) for the LGUs; and, lately, Amb. Mai Jimenez representing the foreign funding institutions. Highlights of the agency reports to the Steering Committee are as follows: * For the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), projects for completion in the 1st semester of 2008 include the P2.51-billion Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) project, the P48.81-million contract package of the TarlacNueva Ecija-Dingalan Road, and 25 road sections of four different projects amounting to P367.4 million. A total of 49 contract packages from nine road projects amounting to P14.22 billion were also identified for commencement in the 1st semester of 2008. * For the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), the 1st semester of 2008, project components of 13 priority airports amounting to P711.7 million, and the P145.44-million New Bacolod-Silay Access Road are for completion. At the same time, project components of six priority airports amounting to P224.76 million, and the P6.32 billion Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 North Extension Project are for commencement. For the 2nd quarter of 2008, a R55 million component of the Kalibo Airport Development Project is for fasttracking, and project components of 18 priority airports amounting to P3.19 billion, with Sub-Allotment Release Order (SARO) amounting to P2.51 billion, are for frontloading. * For the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), six ports amounting to P356.02 million are for completion in the 1st semester of 2008; and nine ports costing P1.05 billion are for fast-tracking in the 2nd quarter of 2008. * The Department of Energy (DOE) presented the status of ten power and electrification projects as of 31 January 208. * The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) reported that four contract packages of the Casecnan Multi-Purpose Irrigation and Power Project amounting to P2.67 billion, and the P3.05 billion rehabilitation of small irrigation projects covering 45, 601 hectares are for completion in the 1st semester of 2008 while the Kabulnan Irrigation Project and the Balintingon Irrigation Project are for commencement. For the 2nd quarter of 2008, project components of three major irrigation projects amounting to P1.83 billion and the nationwide rehabilitation of small irrigation worth P958 million are for fast-tracking. At the same time, the rehabilitation of small irrigation projects worth P809.9 million is for fast-tracking. * The Department of Agriculture (DA) identified 34 farm-to-market roads (FMRs) amounting to P296.56 million for completion and 57 packages of FMRs totaling 634.33 kilometers for commencement in the 1st semester of 2008. * The Bureau of PostHarvest Research and Extension (BPRE) identified eight cold chain projects amounting to P132.67 million for completion, and two cold chain projects for commencement in the 1st semester of 2008. The P4.2 million Buguias Minimal Processing Plant shall be fast-tracked in the 2nd quarter of 2008. As of end of March, 19 of the 149 projects had been completed, up by one from February, with seven ahead of schedule, also up by one from the previous month. Flagged and delayed projects had been reduced by one each, also from the immediately prior month. The 19 completed projects include 12 ports; two major roads; one bridge; two airports; and two power projects. In an earlier meeting, the Steering Committee clustered the 149 projects into six, with each committee member responsible for a cluster. Roads and bridges went to Commissioner Nalupta; Airports, Seaports/RoRo & Railways to Amb. Dee; Major and Small Irrigation to Mr. Nicdao; Farm-to-Market Roads and Cold Chain System to Mayor Guico; Power and Water Projects to Dr. Fabella; and, ICT, Housing and Upgrading of Hospitals to Fr. Anton Pascual.
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