Photo credit: The Department of Public Works and Highways
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) met anew with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) mission to plan and assess the way forward for the realization of Laguna Lakeshore Road Network (LLRN) Project – Phase 1 after the detailed engineering design.
DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, Senior Undersecretary and LLRN Team Head Emil K. Sadain, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director Kelly Bird, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Transport Sector Leader Andres Pizarro, DPWH Project Director Sharif Madsmo H. Hasim of the Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Roads Management Cluster 2 (Multilateral), and Project Manager Zenaida B. Mauhay headed the three (3)-day reconnaissance mission workshop held on February 27 to March 1, 2023 to present strategic plans and financial assessment for the 37.4-kilometer road network and viaduct south of Metro Manila.
“With 85.1% of the detailed engineering design (DED) for LLRN already complete, DPWH has started negotiations to gather support from possible financing institutions crucial in the realization of this flagship infrastructure project,” said Secretary Bonoan.
According to Senior Undersecretary Sadain, the construction of LLRN Project Phase 1 to connect the southern province of Laguna to Metro Manila via Laguna Lake along the western coastline will provide a safer, faster alternative, and reliable transportation link.
The proposed third highway going south will ease the traffic congestion especially during rush hour at the Manila South Road and South Luzon Expressway to support economic development and growth potential of the provinces of Laguna, Batangas, Quezon and Rizal in the Southern Tagalog Region, said Senior Undersecretary Sadain.
The Laguna Lakeshore Road Network-Phase 1 involves construction of 21.5-kilometer viaduct and 15.9-kilometer embankment along the west shoreline of Laguna Lake, starting from Barangay Lower Bicutan in Taguig to Calamba City in Laguna.
It will also cover construction of eight (
interchanges proposed to connect municipal boundaries to the nearest public road along Lower Bicutan, Sucat, Alabang, Tunasan, San Pedro/Biñan, Santa Rosa, Cabuyao, and Calamba, for a total project cost of P175.3-billion.
The reconnaissance mission was the right venue to layout the groundworks in preparation to the fact-finding mission which is an important milestone in the processing and approval of the proposed financing for LLRN.
Discussions focused on funding schemes and loan application process, construction method, preparation of resettlement plan, gender action plan, and environmental impact assessment towards support economic development of the areas in the vicinity of Laguna de Bay.
With the assistance of the experts from ADB and in collaboration with the consultants, we will be able to analyze possible construction and implementation issues, possible project concerns, and plan way ahead the solutions and mitigation measures, added Senior Undersecretary Sadain.
Meanwhile, Feasibility Study for LLRN Phase 2 in the northern to southern coastline via an eastern route is almost complete and the detailed engineering design will be included in the civil works loan for LLRN Phase 1.
DPWH has already submitted the proposed LLRN Project to National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for project approval and endorsement to Department of Finance (DOF) for loan application.
The DPWH is proposing a Multi-Tranche Financing Facility for LLRN Phase 1 civil works in which the budget program for the whole project will be made in three (3) tranches.
Article courtesy of The Department of Public Works and Highways
