Transportation dep’t denies hand in delays
09/16/2008 | 12:48 AM
MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) is distancing itself from a failed airports development project that led the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which funded the project, to blame the department for the delays.
Reacting to news reports on Sept. 3 attributed to the ADB, which criticized the agency for allegedly delays in the land acquisition and consulting phases that led to the project’s eventual cancellation, Transportation Secretary Leandro R. Mendoza said delays on the Third Airports Development Project were incurred before the Arroyo administration.
Viability
"The project was implemented in 1997 and since then major developments have occurred and these developments have had profound impact on the viability of the original project," the DoTC said in a statement.
The project involves the modernization of two major airports, the Puerto Princesa airport in Palawan and Cotabato airport in Mindanao, as well as the upgrading of four smaller airports in Butuan, Dipolog, Pagadian and Sanga-Sanga.
Mr. Mendoza also pointed out that when he became the DoTC secretary in July 2002, he made efforts to save the project.
He changed the project team and implemented institutional and policy reforms in the department. - BusinessWorld
Reacting to news reports on Sept. 3 attributed to the ADB, which criticized the agency for allegedly delays in the land acquisition and consulting phases that led to the project’s eventual cancellation, Transportation Secretary Leandro R. Mendoza said delays on the Third Airports Development Project were incurred before the Arroyo administration.
Viability
"The project was implemented in 1997 and since then major developments have occurred and these developments have had profound impact on the viability of the original project," the DoTC said in a statement.
The project involves the modernization of two major airports, the Puerto Princesa airport in Palawan and Cotabato airport in Mindanao, as well as the upgrading of four smaller airports in Butuan, Dipolog, Pagadian and Sanga-Sanga.
Mr. Mendoza also pointed out that when he became the DoTC secretary in July 2002, he made efforts to save the project.
He changed the project team and implemented institutional and policy reforms in the department. - BusinessWorld
