The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board has recently given the green light to set in motion four high-impact plans and projects that will greatly benefit the Filipino people.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balicasan, in a Palace briefing, said President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. already approved the P67.4 billion Dalton Pass East Alignment Road Project of the Department of Public Works and Highways; the extension of Executive Order No. 10, which reduces the Most Favored Nation tariff rates for meat, rice and corn until December 31, 2024; the second phase of the Master Plan for High-Standard Highway Network Development; and the Department of Health’s 8-point action agenda.
Balicasan also gave updates on previously approved public-private partnership (PPP) projects.
He said that the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital Cancer Center PPP Project is currently under procurement pe the Build-Operate-Transfer Law.
Furthermore, the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway Extension Project is currently undergoing a Swiss challenge and may be awarded in March should there be no challenge, or in May if there is a challenger.
The Contract for the upgrade, expansion, and maintenance of the Laguindingan International Airport in Misamis Oriental is expected to take place between May 2024 and February 2025.
Meanwhile, the bidding for the Dialysis Center PPP Project for the Renal Center Facility of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center is expected to commence before the year-end.
Balicasan said the contract awarding for the upgrade, expansion, operation, and maintenance of Bohol-Panglao International Airport is also set between August 2024 and May 2025.
In another development, incoming Department of Transportation Undersecretary for Railways and current Philippine National Railways (PNR) General Manager Jeremy Regino said the progress of the construction of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) remains on schedule, especially the Tutuban-Malolos (N1) segment and Malolos-Clark (N2) segment.