USAID tells RP to fast track link between DMIA and Makati

The chief of the mission of the United States Agency for International Development on Friday urged the Philippine government to fast track the project that would connect the Clark Special Economic Zone, particularly the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport to Makati City without the hassle of battling massive traffic build-up along Edsa, Metro Manila's main thoroughfare. Jon Lindborg, USAID mission director, told government officials on the 2nd National Government Infrastructure Forum, that the development of Clark would require political will. "Clark has space and its runways are already there but I don't see anything to connect it to the city center.There's the expressway but once you get to Quezon City, it will take you quite a while to get to your destination," Lindborg said. The Forum gave focus on 26 projects that would fall under the Luzon Urban Beltway Project. The projects consisted of 12 roads, seven railways, two airports, three seaport/Roll-On Roll-Off projects and two bulk water projects. Cerge Remonde, director general of the Presidential Management Staff and head of the Infrastructure Monitoring Task Force, said these projects were part of the total 87 priority projects of President Arroyo all over the Philippines. Remonde added that the plan to connect DMIA to Makati City would fall under several projects of the government. The projects that the government lined up included the rehabilitation of Edsa, The North Luzon East Expressway project, P3.09 billion; the P27.665-billion North rail; the Northrail-Southrail Linkage project worth P2.773 billion and the C6 Lakeshore Project , P5.5 billion and the C5 project worth P2.964 billion. - GMANews.TV