President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the through the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, approved one new project funded through official development assistance (ODA), and also changes on five ongoing projects.
According to the agency’s report issued on Thursday, Nov. 24, the NEDA Board cleared the P11.42 billion Philippine Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency (FishCoRe) project of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
FishCoRe aims to improve the management of fishery resources and enhance the value of production of fisheries in select fisheries management areas, the NEDA said.
Also approved was the request of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for utilization of savings, change in scope, and loan validity extension for the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project Phase I.
The project involves the acquisition of 10 Multi-Role Response Vessels to enhance the Philippine Coast Guard’s response capability during coastal maritime incidents which will contribute to maritime safety and security of the country.
Moreover, the NEDA Board approved the request of the DOTr for 19-month loan validity extension for its New Communications, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) systems development project.
The project involves the construction of the Manila ATM Automation System and the Manila ATM Center Building in Pasay City, and the installation of communications and surveillance equipment in ten radar sites.
For the Department of Public Works and Highways, the NEDA Board approved the request to extend by 12 months both the implementation period and the validity of the loan for the Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project.
The project involves the construction of 11.30 kilometers of the unpaved section of the Samar Pacific Coastal Road and construction of three bridges with total length of 261 linear meters.
Meanwhile, the request for change in scope of works, increase in cost, and reallocation of contingency cost to civil works category for Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation Measures in Low-Lying Areas of Pampanga Bay project was also cleared.
The project aims to maximize drainage efficiency, minimize flood damages to properties, and improve trading and market activities in Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin, and Sto. Tomas in Pampanga.
Specifically, the project aims to implement flood control measures, which will provide long-term solution to the three- to four-month flood duration during the rainy season.
Lastly, the NEDA Board approved the request for change in scope for the Philippine Competition Commission’s (PCC) Capacity Building to Foster Competition Project.
The project is a long-term capacity building plan to strengthen the institutional and individual capacities of PCC and other agencies with competition-related mandates.