JICA Technical Aid to Boost PHL Bridge, Tunnel Building Capacity

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have formalized a technical cooperation agreement aimed at bolstering the Philippines' capacity in executing bridge replacement and rehabilitation, as well as constructing road tunnels. This agreement signifies the implementation of three technical cooperation projects designed to address critical infrastructure challenges within the Philippines. The project focused on capacity development in road structures and large-scale bridge replacement and rehabilitation (LBRR) will involve the provision of technical expertise for rehabilitating aging road structures, including those along the main Metro Manila artery, EDSA (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue). "Through the formulation of an evidence-based LBRR Plan and the deployment of Japanese experts, the project supports the development of safer and more sustainable transport infrastructure," the statement indicated. Furthermore, JICA and the DPWH have also signed agreements to strengthen urban drainage management capacity in the Philippines (TCP urban drainage) and to build capacity for the comprehensive development and management of road tunnels. "The project will be closely coordinated with JICA’s ongoing flood control cooperation in the Pasig-Marikina River Basin to ensure that drainage improvements in the Buendia-Maricaban area are aligned with broader basin-wide flood management strategies, maximizing the effectiveness of future flood mitigation measures," it added. — Ashley Erika O. Jose Source: BusinessWorld Economy