The Japanese government will extend support to reinforce bridges, roads and channels in Metro Manila against natural calamities, particularly earthquake.
DPWH Sec. Manuel Bonoan said among the priority projects include the Guadalupe Bridge which connects Mandaluyong and Makati City, and the Lambingan Bridge in Manila.
Other priority projects that Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was the rehabilitation of major intersections in Quezon City under the Metro Manila Interchange Construction Project (MMICP) and the Metro Manila Priority Bridges Seismic Improvement Project which aims to strengthen the resiliency of transport networks in Metro Manila.
JICA also promised to extend the funding of the on-going flood control projects and channel improvement works in Middle Marikina River, including the construction of Manggahan Control Gate Structure, Cainta Floodgate and the Taytay Sluicegate under the Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project Phase IV.
Bonoan said Japan Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa has reiterated his commitment to extend the funding of the on-going rehabilitation of bridges in National Capital Region (NCR) and neighboring provinces, during their meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 17.
“They even committed support for the construction of Cebu-Mactan Bridge and the Coastal Road Construction Project, which is now under way to engineering design,” Bonoan added. (Jun Marcos Tadios)