DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Programmed infrastructure development projects worth billions of pesos will soon be implemented in various areas in the Davao region, the National Economic Development Authority in the area-11 (NEDA) reported.
In a press conference on Friday, January 25, NEDA-XI Regional Director Maria Lourdes D. Lim told reporters of “more exciting infrastructure prospects for the Region in 2019.”
Among the projects soon to be implemented this year is the Davao segment of the Mindanao Railway Project, Lim said.
“One of the highly anticipated projects targeted to commence in 2019 is the Tagum-Davao-Digos segment of the Mindanao Railway Project (MRP),” she emphasized.
Lim added that the railway project is aimed to connect key cities in Mindanao to include Davao, Butuan, Surigao, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Cotabato, Zamboanga, and General Santos.
Lim said that there was a request from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for NEDA Board-Investment Coordination Committee (NB-ICC) to approve the change in MRP scope and cost increasing the project cost from PHP 35.257 Billion to PHP 97.386 Billion.
But the ICC-Technical Board, in a meeting last December 13, 2018, deferred its decision on DOTr’s request, pending the reconciliation of the cost and benefit estimation and project packaging, she added.
Lim also reported two more major projects that will further improve the transport facilities in the city.
One is the Davao City Bypass Road Construction Project that will involve the construction of a 45.2 4-lane highway, including a 2.3 km mountain tunnel.
The project, which will cost PHP25.849 billion, will bypass the city center and divert the traffic from the diversion road.
Lim said the project will be divided into four packages, namely: Package I-1 (10.7km.), Package I-2 (12.8km), Package I-3 (6.1km) and Package II (15.6km).
Second is the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project which will provide a city-wide bus-based transport operating system, with improved and modern franchising mechanisms supported through traffic management improvement to prioritize bus services along with a core network of around 110 kilometers.
Lim pointed out that the transport modernization project will be implemented by the DOTr in close coordination with the city government of Davao.
She also told reporters of the on-going preparations of the feasibility study under the Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility (IPIF) for the proposed Davao City-Samal Bridge Project.
The proposed bridge, with an initial estimated cost of PHP10 billion, will be implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The feasibility study is currently being undertaken by the Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong LTD (Arup).
Port modernization
The airport and seaport in Davao City will also undergo improvements and modernization that are expected to commence this year, Lim said.
The improvement of the Davao International Airport (DIA) is among the priorities and the conduct of the feasibility study is still ongoing.
Lim said the improvement of DIA will include the provision of additional facilities necessary to enhance safety, security, access, passenger, and cargo movement efficiency at the airport.
The Sasa Port will also be modernized to include major upgrading of the general cargo berth and the installation of a port lighting system.
The project will have an estimated cost of almost PHP1 billion which will be sourced out from Philippine Ports Authority Corporate Funds, Lim said.
She added that the total worth of programs, activities, and projects (PAPs) proposed for implementation in the Davao Region for the year 2019 is PHP196.3 billion.
Completed bridges
Lim also announced the completion of three bridges and four road extension projects last year in Davao City.
These bridges include the Suawan Bridge, the Davao River Bridge Phase 2, and the Tamugan Bridge.
The completed road extension projects include the Bypass Road at Buhangin-Tigatto-Mandug-Callawa-Fatima Road with a total contract cost of PHP1.03 billion; the 4 sections of the Davao-Bukidnon Road with a total contract cost of PHP514.88 million; the two sections of the Davao City Diversion Road with a total contract cost of PHP238.8 million; and the Davao City Diversion Road extension to Toril, Bangkal-Talomo-Puan Section, with a contract cost of PHP228.3 million.(Jiah Cadiz ,Aileen L. Sampang ,Charwin Mae Salarda/HCDC interns) (davaotoday.com)
