NEDA studying 206 big-ticket projects; more PPPs eyed


The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said it would come up with a final list of major projects under the Marcos administration at the end of the first quarter of 2023 after going through 206 items on their list, Malacañang said.

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (Photo courtesy of Malacañang)

Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said this following the initial release of seven high-impact projects this week.

In a statement, Garafil, citing NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon, said that the socioeconomic planning body is currently vetting a long list of projects.

“So far, mga 206 iyong nasa listahan ngayon. And that's just for iyong tinatawag nating magiging flagship (So far there are 26 on the list. These are what we could consider as flagship)," she said.

"That could still be trimmed down... iyon nga tinitingnan natin iyong viability nito (We're looking at their viability)," she added.

According to Garafil, there are around 3,000 projects slated until 2028, but the NEDA will come up with a new list by the end of March this year.

In a media briefing, Edillon said those government projects would be funded through various schemes such as public-private partnership (PPP), grants, and government allocation.

In implementing PPP projects, she said the administration would focus on solicited PPPs, or those well-crafted and vetted projects, which could help the government achieve its economic growth targets, increased employment, and poverty reduction.

The high-impact projects approved by the NEDA Board, chaired by President Marcos, include:

  • The establishment of a 300-bed capacity University of the Philippines (UP)-Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Cancer Center-Public Private Partnership (PPP) project
  • Increasing the cost of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) rehabilitation project
  • Utilization of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) loan balance for the new Communications
  • Navigation
  • Surveillance-Air Traffic Management (CNS-ATM) system
  • The construction of the new Dumaguete Airport Development Project

Other projects approved or confirmed by the NEDA board also include the Department of Agriculture's Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIDP) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 's P20-billion first phase of the Integrated Flood Resilience and adaptation project in three major river basins in the country.