Marcos admin adds three more flagship projects – NEDA

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23) — The Marcos administration has added three more infrastructure flagship projects (IFPs) to its list, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said Wednesday.

During a press briefing, Balisacan said the NEDA Board confirmed the revised guidelines for the formulation, prioritization, and monitoring of the IFPs, especially those not included in the list but meet the criteria.

“Following the revised guidelines, the NEDA Board approved to include three more projects under the list of IFPs,” he added.

The projects are the following:

- Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway Extension Project

- Philippine Rural Development Project Scale Up

- Upgrade, operation, and maintenance of the Laguindingan International Airport Project in Misamis Oriental

“With their inclusion in the list, these projects will be prioritized in the government’s annual budget preparation and will benefit from the expedited issuance of applicable permits and licenses, in accordance with current legal frameworks,” the NEDA official said.

Balisacan also gave updates on the massive infrastructure program, saying that 71 projects are ongoing while 27 more have been approved for implementation.

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He noted that 12 of those projects may be completed within the year, with some of them began by the previous administration.

“A big push we’re making is improving connectivity, physical and internet. What we want to achieve is connect these lagging areas or regions with those that are doing well so we can create more opportunities, not just in a few places,” he said.