DPWH, ADB discuss P175.3-B Laguna Lakeshore Road Network project
By Chito Chavez
Published Mar 5, 2023 05:28 am
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has conferred with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) anew to assess the plans and facilitate the funding requirements towards the realization of the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network Project (LLRN).
With 85.1 percent of the detailed engineering design (DED) for LLRN already complete, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan stated that the department “has started negotiations to gather support from possible financing institutions crucial in the realization of this flagship infrastructure project.”
Bonoan, DPWH Senior Undersecretary and LLRN Team Head Emil K. Sadain, ADB Country Director Kelly Bird, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Transport Sector Leader Andres Pizarro, DPWH Project Director Sharif Madsmo H. Hasim of the Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Roads Management Cluster 2 (Multilateral), and Project Manager Zenaida B. Mauhay discussed recently in the three-day reconnaissance mission workshop the strategic plans and financial assessment for the 37.4-kilometer road network and viaduct south of Metro Manila.
Sadain noted that the construction of the LLRN Project Phase 1 will connect the southern province of Laguna to Metro Manila via the Laguna Lake along the western coast line which will provide a safer, faster alternative and reliable transportation link.
The proposed third highway going south will ease the traffic congestion especially during rush hour at the Manila South Road and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) that will support the economic development and growth potential of the provinces of Laguna, Batangas, Quezon and Rizal in the Southern Tagalog Region.
The initial phase of the LLRN involves the construction of the 21.5-kilometer viaduct and 15.9-kilometer embankment along the west shoreline of Laguna Lake, starting from Barangay Lower Bicutan in Taguig to Calamba City in Laguna.
It will also cover construction of eight interchanges proposed to connect municipal boundaries to the nearest public road along Lower Bicutan, Sucat, Alabang, Tunasan, San Pedro/Biñan, Santa Rosa, Cabuyao, and Calamba.
“The reconnaissance mission was the right venue to lay out the ground works in preparation to the fact-finding mission which is an important milestone in the processing and approval of the proposed financing for LLRN,’’ the DPWH said.
The DPWH pointed out that the discussions focused on funding schemes and loan application process, construction method, preparation of resettlement plan, gender action plan and environmental impact assessment towards the support economic development of the areas in the vicinity of Laguna de Bay.
“With the assistance of the experts from ADB and in collaboration with the consultants, we will be able to analyze possible construction and implementation issues, possible project concerns, and plan way ahead the solutions and mitigation measures,’’ Sadain lamented.
It was disclosed that the feasibility study for LLRN Phase 2 in the northern to southern coastline via an eastern route is almost complete and the detailed engineering design will be included in the civil works loan for LLRN Phase 1.
The DPWH has already submitted the proposed LLRN Project to National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for approval and endorsement to the Department of Finance (DOF) for loan application.
The DPWH is proposing a multi-tranche financing facility for LLRN Phase 1 civil works in which the budget program for the whole project will be made in three tranches.
With 85.1 percent of the detailed engineering design (DED) for LLRN already complete, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan stated that the department “has started negotiations to gather support from possible financing institutions crucial in the realization of this flagship infrastructure project.”
Bonoan, DPWH Senior Undersecretary and LLRN Team Head Emil K. Sadain, ADB Country Director Kelly Bird, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Transport Sector Leader Andres Pizarro, DPWH Project Director Sharif Madsmo H. Hasim of the Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Roads Management Cluster 2 (Multilateral), and Project Manager Zenaida B. Mauhay discussed recently in the three-day reconnaissance mission workshop the strategic plans and financial assessment for the 37.4-kilometer road network and viaduct south of Metro Manila.
Sadain noted that the construction of the LLRN Project Phase 1 will connect the southern province of Laguna to Metro Manila via the Laguna Lake along the western coast line which will provide a safer, faster alternative and reliable transportation link.
The proposed third highway going south will ease the traffic congestion especially during rush hour at the Manila South Road and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) that will support the economic development and growth potential of the provinces of Laguna, Batangas, Quezon and Rizal in the Southern Tagalog Region.
The initial phase of the LLRN involves the construction of the 21.5-kilometer viaduct and 15.9-kilometer embankment along the west shoreline of Laguna Lake, starting from Barangay Lower Bicutan in Taguig to Calamba City in Laguna.
It will also cover construction of eight interchanges proposed to connect municipal boundaries to the nearest public road along Lower Bicutan, Sucat, Alabang, Tunasan, San Pedro/Biñan, Santa Rosa, Cabuyao, and Calamba.
“The reconnaissance mission was the right venue to lay out the ground works in preparation to the fact-finding mission which is an important milestone in the processing and approval of the proposed financing for LLRN,’’ the DPWH said.
The DPWH pointed out that the discussions focused on funding schemes and loan application process, construction method, preparation of resettlement plan, gender action plan and environmental impact assessment towards the support economic development of the areas in the vicinity of Laguna de Bay.
“With the assistance of the experts from ADB and in collaboration with the consultants, we will be able to analyze possible construction and implementation issues, possible project concerns, and plan way ahead the solutions and mitigation measures,’’ Sadain lamented.
It was disclosed that the feasibility study for LLRN Phase 2 in the northern to southern coastline via an eastern route is almost complete and the detailed engineering design will be included in the civil works loan for LLRN Phase 1.
The DPWH has already submitted the proposed LLRN Project to National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for approval and endorsement to the Department of Finance (DOF) for loan application.
The DPWH is proposing a multi-tranche financing facility for LLRN Phase 1 civil works in which the budget program for the whole project will be made in three tranches.