DAVAO CITY — A team funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is set to present within the next two months its initial report on the gaps of the proposed infrastructure projects in this city.
Venetia Lynn M. Sison, a member of the team, said the report will contain the evaluation of the team on the key proposed projects, including those that are set to be implemented.
“We have integrated all the projects that we have come across,” said Ms. Sison, adding that even proposed projects that have been shelved, like the proposed but eventually canceled P39-billion reclamation project of the Mega Harbour Port and Development, Inc.
Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio canceled the memorandum of agreement that her father, President Rodrigo R. Duterte, signed with Mega Harbour on the last day of his term as mayor.
In assessing the projects, Ken Kumazawa, JICA team leader, said the team focused on key factors like population growth, environmental impact and economic growth.
“We have been trying to take a more comprehensive approach so that part of our recommendation (in the report) will be whether these projects will address those gaps,” he said.
The estimate for the city’s population, Mr. Kumazawa added, is 3.5 million by 2024. “We will look at the impact of the population on these projects, on whether it is advantageous to build them now or later,” he added, pointing out that the projects are those identified by the city government and the National Economic and Development Authority.
Among the projects that are being considered in the assessment is the 23-kilometer bypass road that JICA is helping fund. The Japanese agency and the Philippine government in 2015 signed an agreement for its implementation. Based on the initial agreement, the project is set to be completed by 2021 and will be funded with ¥23.9 billion worth of official development assistance.
Another project being considered in the assessment is the Mindanao Railway System, where the first segment, the Tagum City-Davao City-Digos City stretch, is set to start construction next year.
Ms. Sison explained that, although the initial report has yet to be completed, the team might even recommend not to pursue certain projects. “We have looked at the overall impact of these projects, so it is not far-fetched for us to recommend that some of them may even harm either the environment or the economic growth,” she added.
The report is part of the 15-month Davao City infrastructure development plan and capacity-building project which is set for completion in March. However, Mr. Kumazawa said the team, after its report presentation in October, will come up with a final report based on the inputs that government representatives will provide. — Carmelito Q. Francisco
