The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) yesterday said the Asian Development Bank (ADB) remains committed to support the Philippines’ return to high economic growth by ramping up investments in public infrastructure amid the pandemic.
Roger Mercado, DPWH acting secretary, said in a statement talks with Kelly Bird, ADB country director for the Philippines, has confirmed the bank’s commitment to provide continuing support to infrastructure development programs and help facilitate the economy’s rebound from the pandemic by accelerating job generation.
Emil Sadain, DPWH undersecretary for Unified Project Management Office operations, said ADB has been a partner for the Build, Build, Build initiative including the climate change and disaster risk reduction efforts.
Ongoing projects funded by ADB include the civil works for the P25.3-billion improving growth corridors in the Mindanao road sector project that covers the construction of seven road sub-projects.
Under detailed engineering design (DED) and procurement stages is the P6.8-billion Emergency Assistance for Reconstruction and Recovery of Marawi and P12-billion construction of three priority bridges crossing Marikina River in Metro Manila — the Marcos Highway-St. Mary Bridge, Homeowners Drive-A. Bonifacio Ave. Bridge and Kabayani-Matandang Balara Bridge.
ADB has also provided technical assistance for the Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility (IPIF) to deliver more effective and more innovative infrastructure projects.
With a completed feasibility study under IPIF, DED is ongoing for the proposed P175.7-billion Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge connecting Mariveles, Bataan to Naic, Cavite with a total length of 32.15 kilometers.
Other pipeline projects with completed feasibility studies financed by ADB include the proposed P175.7-billion Laguna Lakeshore Road Network project; a 51-km. road network along Laguna Lakeshore connecting Lower Bicutan, Taguig City and Calamba City, Laguna; and P54-billion flood risk management for the six major river basins of Apayao-Abulug, Abra, Jalaur, Tagum-Libuganon, Buayan-Malungon and Agus.
