NEDA OK’s P6.5-B typhoon rehab project

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) approved on Tuesday a P6.48-billion infrastructure rehabilitation project aimed at helping typhoon-damaged provinces. In a statement, the agency said the project is part of government efforts to reconstruct infrastructure damaged by tropical depression Ondoy and typhoon Pepeng last year. The project will be funded through a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) worth P5.31 billion while the remaining P1.17 billion will come from the government. The NEDA said the project would not be covered by the 45-day ban on public works being implemented by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Rolando G. Tungpalan, NEDA deputy director-general for investments, earlier said the project was prioritized and deemed urgent to avoid being impeded by the public works ban imposed by the poll body. "[The project] is [expected] to restore access to socioeconomic activities in the affected areas, as well as contribute to the safety of their residents," the NEDA said. The three-year project is expected to start this month and be completed in 2012. Rehabilitating flood control facilities will be completed on or before June 2010. — Gloria Krisana L. Gallezo, BusinessWorld