Two projects under the public-private partnership (PPP) scheme are up for approval by the third week of March by the National Economic and Development Authority Board chaired by President Benigno Aquino III.
PPP Center executive director Cosette Canilao said the two projects are the P370-billion Mass Transit System Loop (MTSL) and the P19.3-billion Motor Vehicle Inspection System (MVIS).
The MTSL features construction and operation of the country’s first subway system that will traverse Taguig going to Makati and Pasay. The new 12-kilometer rail line will mostly be located underground with some elevated sections.
If approved, Canilao said bidding for the MTSL can start late in the second quarter of this year.
On the other hand, the MVIS involves setting up motor vehicle inspection centers for testing various categories of heavy-duty, light-duty, and two-wheeled vehicles around the country. These centers, to be linked to the information system of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), entail developing vehicle lanes with automated inspection equipment, parking areas, and test driving lanes.
The project is expected to help manage the estimated 35 million vehicles that will ply the country’s roads by 2035.
An MVIS system was put in place several years ago but only five inspection centers were established, which LTO reportedly found hard to maintain.
The government has so far awarded nine PPP projects.
Image courtesy of Sura Nualpradid at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
