Changes to North-South railway, MCIA projects OKd
The Marcos-led Economy and Development (ED) Council has approved changes to five development projects, including two public-private partnerships (PPPs) for the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) and Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA).
According to the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev), which co-chairs the council, the NSCR revisions cover its parameters, terms and conditions to attract more bidders for the railway’s operations and maintenance contract.
The Department of Transportation in July said it expected to receive bids for the P229.32-billion NSCR O&M contract by end-September. The project has drawn interest from Japanese firms, French operators and local companies.
The 147-kilometer (km) railway system is expected to connect Metro Manila with Pampanga and Laguna. Its Malolos-Clark section is targeted to become operational by 2028, while the southern portion is scheduled for completion by 2031.
Meanwhile, the ED Council also approved the extension of the MCIA concession period to allow for a longer investment recovery period, with the concessionaire committing nearly P15 billion for capacity augmentation and capital investments.
The extension is expected to give the operator more time to undertake improvements, including the restoration and expansion of domestic and international routes and more seamless airport transfers.
Other projects reviewed by the ED Council include the Supporting Innovation in the Philippine Technical and Vocational Education and Training System (Siptvets) project of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
Siptvets is a $100-million project backed by the Asian Development Bank that aims to improve the employability of technical and vocational education and training graduates.
Another is the Department of Public Works and Highways’ Road Network Development Project in Conflict-Affected Areas in Mindanao. Funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the project calls for the building of 80.97 km of roads across key areas in Mindanao.
Lastly, the council approved changes to the Reducing Food Insecurity and Undernutrition with Electronic Vouchers project of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. The project seeks to scale up the Walang Gutom Program from 2025 to 2028 and aims to reach 750,000 food-poor households by next year.
