THE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board’s Committee on Infrastructure (INFRACOM) has endorsed for approval the second transport infrastructure road map for the capital region.

In a statement, INFRACOM said it endorsed to the NEDA Board for approval the results of the Follow-up Survey on the Roadmap for Transport Infrastructure Development for the Greater Capital Region on Aug. 5. The plan is also known as Roadmap 2.

INFRACOM said that by 2022 the plan projects transport costs paid by every commuter to fall to P2.13 billion per day from P3.5 billion in 2017, thereby making the transport system more efficient. Roadmap 2 also analyzed the impact of the Build, Build, Build program and other proposed additional projects on the transport network performance of Mega Manila by 2022, with a longer-term outlook running out to 2035.

The long-term scenario assumes that after the completion of the proposed projects, transport costs will fall to P2.40 billion by 2035.

“We know that Filipinos desire greater mobility. The Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 also calls for efficiency in cities and connectivity between growth centers and lagging areas to promote growth and reduce regional disparities. This is why we are making our transport system convenient and efficient,” NEDA OIC-Undersecretary for Investment Programming Jonathan L. Uy was quoted as saying.

With assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Roadmap 2 updated the information of the Roadmap for Transport Infrastructure Development for Metropolitan Manila and its Surrounding Areas (Regions III and IV-A) or the Transport Roadmap which was approved in 2014.

The works include 29 railway projects, 14 road-based public transport projects, two traffic management projects, 15 expressway projects, 9 bridge/flyover projects, and 38 urban road projects, requiring a total investment of at least P2.8 trillion until 2035.

Roadmap 2 also calls for the creation of secondary roads and suburban roads among other transport sub-sector strategies, in line with the proposal to develop growth centers in the north and south of Metro Manila. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

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