The P10.528-million Batangas-Manila natural gas pipeline project is being reviewed for approval by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, a government official said yesterday.
During the Philippines Energy and Infrastructure Finance Forum yesterday, Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center executive director Ferdinand Pecson said the 120-kilometer Bat-Man transmission project is sole energy-related PPP project up for approval.
“The Batman project is not submitted for the NEDA board meeting this month,” he said. “It is being reviewed whether it will continue in the same form and structure as it is today. The DOE, I suppose with the new administration, is having a second look at this,” Pecson said.
For the meantime, the PPP Center will be looking at other projects like the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) development project and the Plaridel Bypass Toll Road.
Previously, former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the DOE requested an audience with the Cabinet-level NEDA Board to discuss the implementation of the pipeline because of off-taker concerns.
“What we were looking at more is the projects that have been sent for NEDA board approval. The NAIA project is, for sure, will be part of the coming board meeting. We are also awaiting the final decision on this Plaridel Bypass Tollroad project. The issue there is the ROW cost has increased, so the total project cost has gone up outside the threshold for which another review is necessary,” Pecson said.