The government of Philippines will launch tender processes for one railway and two road projects under public private partnership (PPP) after the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board approved them.

The PPP projects that were approved for implementation by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Department of Transport and Communications (DOTC) are the following:

• North-South Railway Project (NSRP) (South Line), the total porject investment is estimted at P170.7 billion (US$3.85 billion)

• NLEx-SLEx Connector Road, the total porject investment is estimted at P25.6 billion (US$578 million)

• Cavite Laguna Expressway (CALAx), the total porject investment is estimted at P35.4 billion (US$799 million)

After the Board approval, implementing agencies (IAs) will now prepare for the publication of the invitation to pre-qualify and bid for the two solicited projects: NSRP and CALAx and an advertisement for the Swiss Challenge of NLEx-SLEx Connector Road, an unsolicited project.

The proposed NSRP South Line PPP covers Metro Manila to Legazpi City, Albay, plus a number of existing and proposed branch lines totaling to approximately 653 km. It consists of commuter railway operations between Tutuban and Calamba and long haul railway operations between Tutuban and Legazpi, including extended long haul rail operations on the branch line between Calamba and Batangas and extension between Legazpi and Matnog.

The NLEx-SLEx Connector Road project involves the construction and operation and maintenance (O&M) of a 13.5 km. four-lane elevated expressway over the Philippine National Railway (PNR) right of way which starts in Caloocan City and ends in Buendia, Makati City. The project will connect North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) to decongest traffic in Metro Manila.

The CALAx project will provide a critical link for the provinces of Cavite and Laguna connecting two major toll roads - the Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) and the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). It will include the construction of centralized toll plazas, a toll collection system, viaducts and bridges (i.e. waterway, expressway, overpass, underpass, and ramps).

Nine PPP projects have been awarded under the government's flagship infrastructure PPP program, so far:

• Daang Hari-South Luzon Expressway Link Road;
• Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway;
• First phase of the PPP for School Infrastructure Project (PSIP);
• PSIP's second phase;
• Philippine Orthopedic Center modernization;
• Automatic Fare Collection System;
• Integrated Transport System (ITS) Project-Southwest Terminal;
• Mactan-Cebu International Airport Passenger Terminal Building; and
• LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension Operation & Maintenance.

Seven others have been rolled out:

• Philippine airport package PPP project;
• ITS Project-South Terminal;
• Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project;
• New Centennial Water Source Project;
• LRT Line 2 Operations and Maintenance (O&M) PPP project;
• Cavite and Laguna (CALA) Expressway PPP project;
• Laguna Lakeshore expressway and dike PPP project