19 Accelerating Infrastructure Development

The Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 and the 0-10 Point Socioeconomic Agenda identify infrastructure development among the top priorities of the government to sustain inclusive economic growth, generate new jobs, and improve the quality of life in both urban and rural communities.

The “Build, Build, Build” agenda of the government is seen to boost infrastructure development and usher in the envisioned “Golden Age of Infrastructure” of the country in the medium term by intensifying investments on public infrastructure whilst addressing implementation bottlenecks, ensuring the readiness of infrastructure programs and projects (PAPs) in the pipeline, and enhancing the absorptive capacities of implementing agencies in project preparation, development, and implementation.

A total of 4,490 infrastructure PAPs on transportation, water resources, energy, social, information and communications technology (ICT), and other public infrastructure, with total investment targets of ₱7,738,279.75 million over the medium term,1 are deemed responsive to the goals and outcomes of the infrastructure sector embodied in the PDP 2017-2022. Of the said total number of PAPs, 332 PAPs2 are identified as big ticket PAPs or Core Investment Programs/Projects (CIPs), amounting to ₱4,865,496.26 million, which represent the pipeline of PAPs that shall require the review/approval of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board - Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) prior to implementation.

Infrastructure development, as a cross-cutting strategy, plays an indispensable role in sustaining the growth momentum, safeguarding a clean and healthy environment, and providing support to the other productive sectors of the economy. Aside from the infrastructure PAPs in this Chapter, 494 additional PAPs amounting to ₱1,317,825.00 million correspond to the goals and outcomes of the social development (including housing requirements), peace and security, and environment and natural resources sectors, hence, are provided in the other respective Chapters of the 2017-2022 Public Investment Program (PIP).

INFRASTRUCTURE FLAGSHIP PROJECTS

Of the priority infrastructure PAPs of the government, the NEDA Board approved the adoption of 75 highimpact Infrastructure Flagship Projects that represent the major capital undertakings that the government will implement within the medium term. These projects are envisioned to enhance the connectivity and the promotion of growth centers outside the urban-industrial region centered around Metro Manila, and are expected to significantly contribute to the government’s “Build, Build, Build” agenda. A Project Facilitation, Monitoring, and Innovation (PFMI) Task Force was created to ensure efficient and timely implementation of these flagship projects.

LINKAGE WITH THE PDP AND ITS RESULTS MATRICES

The strategic framework of the sector as provided in the PDP identifies five infrastructure intermediate outcomes that are responsive to the sector outcomes and to the overarching societal goal of providing the underlying foundation for inclusive growth, a high-trust society, and a globally competitive knowledge economy.

Figure 19.3. Strategic Framework to Accelerate Infrastructure Development

The major PAPs highlighted in the succeeding sections of this Chapter correspond to the following infrastructure intermediate outcomes embodied in the Plan:

a. Efficiency, transparency, and participation in governance enhanced;

b. Competitiveness and productivity of economic sectors increased;

c. Gaps in basic infrastructure for human capital development reduced;

d. Safety and security against natural and man-made disasters, especially for the poor, improved; and

e. Innovative solutions and technologies encouraged/adopted to increase growth potential.

Efficiency, transparency, and participation in governance enhanced

Recognizing the role of ICT as a vital tool for good governance, the government will continue to enhance the country's e-government system. The National Government Portal (NGP),3 with investment targets of ₱2,618.15 million for the period 2018-2022, is a one-stop shop portal to be implemented by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) that will provide access to reliable government online services, data, and information. The project further aims to provide a mechanism that will unite all web-based government content to maximize efficiency, and provide rapid and high-quality services to citizens.

Competitiveness and productivity of economic sectors increased

Road Transport

To provide an adequate, accessible, reliable, and safe access for the people and goods, and to increase the travel speed in key corridors, the road network of the country will be improved through implementation of several projects, among others:

a. Panguil Bay Bridge Project;

b. Cavite-Laguna Expressway;

c. Bonifacio Global City to Ortigas Center Road Link Project;

d. Widening/improvement of General Luis St.-Kaybiga-Polo-Novaliches Road;

e. Davao City Bypass Road;

f. Metro Manila Interchange Construction Project, Phase VI;

g. North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway (NLEX-SLEX) Connector Road Project; and

h. Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) Project, Phase I.

The quality of existing roads, including local, farm-to-market, and farm-to-mill roads, will be enhanced through road rehabilitation and improvement programs. Provision of adequate access to tourism destination and industrial sites will be ensured through convergence programs between the DPWH, Department of Tourism, and Department of Trade and Industry. Further, accessibility throughout the country will be improved through the construction of long-span inter-island bridges such as the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridge and the Nationwide Island Link Bridges.

http://www.neda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/PIP-2017-2022-19.pdf