The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $175-million loan for the Philippines that will finance the development of three new climate- and disaster-resilient bridges over the Marikina River.
“The Metro Manila Bridges Project will construct bridges totaling 3,024 meters over the Marikina River, including the Marcos Highway-St. Mary Avenue Bridge, Homeowner’s Drive-A. Bonifacio Bridge, and Kabayani Street-Matandang Balara Bridge. It will help improve the ability of the Department of Public Works and Highways to manage, operate, and maintain the country’s roads and bridges,” ADB said in a statement.
Chaorin Shim, ADB transport specialist for Southeast Asia, said the project will “improve road traffic flow amid the rapid urbanization of Metro Manila.”
Shim added the project is part of the Philippine government’s flagship “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure development program and its integrated transport strategy to decongest Metro Manila as well as promote development in the regions.
“The project is ADB’s first focus on bridge construction in the Philippines and will help in the country’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic by creating jobs, improving the living conditions of residents near the river, and providing them with better access to the rest of Metro Manila,” he said.
The bridge designs include climate- and disaster-resilient features to reduce flood risks and absorb shocks from strong earthquakes and will meet international safety standards for access to all pedestrians, including people with disabilities, children, older people and women.
The bridges will connect to Metro Manila’s major arterial and other trunk roads.
The project is aligned with ADB’s 2018-2023 country partnership strategy for the Philippines which prioritizes support for the country’s infrastructure investments, among others, the ADB said in a statement.
ADB’s current investments in the country’s big-ticket infrastructure projects include the Malolos Clark Railway Project, EDSA Greenway Project and the Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project.
“ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty,” the multilateral lender said.
