The Public Works Department said it is studying an unsolicited proposal from a group led by San Miguel Corp. to build a P399.66-billion flood control and expressway project that will connect Bataan and Metro Manila.
“It’s still under study because it’s a massive project. There’s a lot of technical issues that have to be addressed,” Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said.
Villar said the technical group of the National Economic and Development Authority was studying the environmental and economic impact of the project.
“It has to go through process. Of course, being government, we have to study it first, make sure there is no adverse impact on the areas it will pass through,” Villar said.
“I think any road is needed. We just need to compute the economic benefits. Usually, it is included in the Neda study, weighing the economic impact vs. the cost. We try our best to quantify what will be the benefit. So, it’s still early stage. Very early stage,” he said.
The proponent, Coastal Development Consortium, led by San Miguel Holdings Corp. and New San Jose Builders Inc., plans to build an integrated infrastructure project in the northern coastline of Manila Bay.
It will involve financing, design and construction of the city flood control in the coastal waters of Navotas City and coastal sea barrier through the northern part of Manila Bay covering the coastal areas of Bulacan, Pampanga and Bataan.
An expressway that will connect Bataan with Metro Manila and providing direct access to the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga with a concession period of 50 years is also included in the project proposal.
Of the total project cost of P399.66 billion, the proponent allotted P60.84 billion for city flood barrier; P40.36 billion for expressway and P237.02 billion for coastal barrier.
The Public Works Department said it expected the Neda board to act on the proposal by first quarter of 2017.
