ROLL-IT Approves 8 Central Luzon Projects for 2018 NEP

Launched in the region in February 2017, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Convergence Program called Roads Leveraging Linkages for Industry and Trade (ROLL-IT) aims to facilitate the efficient and more coordinated efforts to identify, prioritize, and implement road access infrastructure leading to various industries and economic zones.

Through the participation of Provincial Planning and Development Offices and local government units, about 25 projects were initially received from four provinces for evaluation by the Regional Technical Working Group (RTWG). This involved the compliance with documentary requirements and onsite assessment by the Central TWG (CTWG) that validated the qualification of industries or economic zones intended to benefit from the proposed industry road projects.

Said inspection involved the national and regional offices of DTI and DPWH, the Board of Investments (BOI), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and officials from concerned LGUs and PPDOs.

By end of July, eight projects from Central Luzon were included in the 2018 National Expenditure Program (NEP) of DPWH. They are:

Bataan

Road connecting Gen. Lim to Roman Expressway in support to Agri-based Industries, Orion, Bataan
Road connecting Junction Layac-Balanga-Mariveles Port Road to Brgy. Pto. Rivas in support of Fish Processing Industry, City of Balanga, Bataan
Road connecting Roman Expressway to Upper Tuyo in support of Agribusiness, Balanga City, Bataan
Improvement of Road connecting Junction Layac-Balanga-Mariveles Port Road to Brgy. Daan Bago in support of Fish Processing Industry, Orion, Bataan

Bulacan

Iba-Longos Provincial Road and Carillo-Abulalas Farm to Market Road at Barangay Abulalas in support of Horticulture Businesses, Hagonoy, Bulacan
Pandi-Angat Road connecting Gen. Alejo Santos Highway and Balagtas-Pandi Road and Sta. Clara-Pandi Road in support of Furniture and Garments, Pandi, Bulacan
Tabe-Tiaong Municipal Road connecting Balagtas-Guiguinto Bypass Road in support of Transport and Logistics, Others: Warehouses, Industrial Estates, Guiguinto, Bulacan
San Ildefonso-RR Sta.-Akle Road connecting Old Cagayan Valley Road and Pulong Sampaloc-Akle-Buasaw Road in support of the Agribusinesses, DRT, and San Miguel towns, San Ildefonso, Bulacan

As of November, the remaining projects and new project proposals are being evaluated for the 2019 NEP.