APD | Japan to assist the Philippines through seismic improvement project

By APD writer Melo M. Acuña

MANILA – The Philippine government’s program to improve the resilience of two major bridges will be realized soon as the Japanese government’s funds will upgrade the Lambingan and Guadalupe bridges in Metro Manila.

The project supports the integrity of major arterial road network and is expected to add sustainable economic and social development in Metro Manila as it prepares for large scale earthquakes in the thickly populated region.

The original loan agreement amounting to ¥9,783,000,000.00 was signed on August 25,2015 as the current project responds to an increase in the total project cost and extension of the project implementation period by one year and eight months until August 2023.

The cost increase was due to changes in construction technology to be applied to Guadalupe bridge and the need for additional work shifts for the construction period, Japan, through JICA, is providing a supplemental loan of ¥4,409,000,000.

The exchange of notes was between Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi at the Makati Shangri-la Hotel where the two ministers held their bilateral meeting at about midday Thursday.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)