Gov’t oks LRT extension, infra projects

President Benigno S. Aquino III presides over the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board Meeting at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room of the Malacañan Palace on Monday (February 16, 2015). Also in photo (from left) are Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.; Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo; Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr.; Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene Almendras; Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Jesus Paje. (Photo by Lauro Montellano Jr./Malacañang Photo Bureau/PNA)

MANILA — The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board on Tuesday approved transportation, irrigation, fire safety and local development projects.

“These projects are part of our strategy to make the Philippines’ agriculture, industry, and services sectors more competitive. The approved projects on irrigation and roads in provinces will help facilitate local growth and development among the projects’ covered regions or areas in the country,” Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said in a statement.

Chaired by President Aquino, the board also approved the restructuring of two infrastructure-related projects.

Included in the approved list is the West extension project of the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) of the Department of Transportation and Communications.

It has an estimated cost of P10.1 billion and is aimed at the construction of the extension of the existing LRT line which will track three proposed stations in Tutuban, Divisoria and Pier 4.

The project is expected to be implemented within 3 and a half years and will cover the Recto station extending to the Pier 4 area.

Other projects approved by the board includes the  P2.6 billion Agno River Irrigation System Extension Project and the P13.37 billion Balog-Balog Multipurpose Project.