THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a technical assistance grant for the decongestion of Metro Manila’s main artery, Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA).
However, a loan to fund actual infrastructure and transport systems remains up for approval by the ADB Board.
On its Web site, the bank said it approved on Dec. 1 the $1.5-million technical assistance special fund that the government can tap, to “address the key issue of high cost of transport across Manila.”
Its project documents show that the project aims to reduce travel time, increase passenger throughput; improve connectivity between different transport modes and the surroundings areas, and improve the ability of government to operate transport systems.
The grant will help prepare for a comprehensive transport project on EDSA.
“The indicative loan amount of $500 million will improve all major transport modes along EDSA,
Metro Rail Transport Line 3 (MRT-3), buses, and private vehicles, as well as improve pedestrian facilities,” the document read.
The projected approval date for the infrastructure loan is Oct. 28, 2018, according to the ADB.
“The proposed loan is directly aligned with the Manila transport plans and will augment the major infrastructure proposals through support for system management and operations improvement, notably along the main transport corridor in the city,” it added.
ADB said the cost of congestion on EDSA is estimated at P2.4 billion a day, with Metro Manila accounting for 36.6% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
The transportation project was initially the Metro Manila Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line 2, or the EDSA line. Under its 2018-2020 Country Operations Business Plan for the Philippines, the ADB broadened its scope, while shifting the project from “standby” in 2017, to “firm” in 2018.
On the list of the government’s flagship infrastructure projects provided by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the approved BRT is estimated to cost some P37.76 billion, to be funded by Official Development Assistance (ODA) from South Korea, and additional financing from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
The project is an alternative mass transit system that runs from Monumento in Caloocan to the Diosdado Macapagal Avenue/Roxas Boulevard area at the other end of EDSA. It includes integrated routes between the Ortigas Business District, Bonifacio Global City, and the Makati Business District.
Another BRT system approved by the NEDA Board is the P4.789- billion line 1 plying España Boulevard to Quezon Avenue, which will be funded by the World Bank and the French development agency AFD.
Though it has yet to be approved by NEDA’s Investment Coordination Committee, the proposed BRT line 3 runs from Bonifacio Global City (BGC) to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), with an estimated cost of P40 billion, which is being lined up for China ODA financing. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan
