Pimentel lauds President Aquino for approval of 12 new mega infra projects

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III delivers his speech during United Nation Climate Change Summit held at the UN Headquarters here on Tuesday (September 23). (Photo by Ryan Lim / Malacanang Photo Bureau)

MANILA – Sen. Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III on Thursday commended President Benigno Aquino for timely approval of 12 new mega infrastructure projects that would significantly contribute in job creation and stirring economic activity.

Pimentel cited in particular the P8.55 billion Flood Risk Management Project for Cagayan de Oro River, a vital project that would greatly protect valuable land and properties destroyed by tropical typhoons in the past few years, as a huge source of job opportunities for local labor.

He said the project is aimed at strengthening the resilience of the communities along the stretch of the Cagayan de Oro River, from the Macalajar Bay to the Pelaez Bridge, to climate change and other weather hazards by mitigating flood risk in the area.

The project is expected to begin full blast construction in October next year and will be fully completed by the end of March in 2022.

Other mega projects approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, chaired by Aquino, are the construction of the Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue/Makati Avenue-Paseo de Roxas Avenue Vehicles Underpass Project and the Metro Manila Interchange Project.

The NEDA board also approved the restoration of bridges damaged by a powerful earthquake in Bohol last year as well as the allocation of funds for the operations, maintenance and development projects of the Iloilo, Bacolod, Davao, and the Puerto Princesa international airports.

The improvement of regional prison facilities through public-private partnership; Davao Sasa port modernization; fisheries, coastal resources and livelihood programs; and project convergence on value chain enhancement for growth and empowerment, were likewise okayed by the NEDA board.

Pimentel said these projects are important to boost inclusive growth and reduce poverty as they are expected to generate much-needed employment of both skilled and unskilled labor and stimulate intensified business activities at the local scenes of project implementations.