Philippine gov't to push for multi-bln transportation projects in 2012

The Philippine government will be in full steam next year to construct infrastructure projects with total investment of 500-billion-peso (11.5 billion U.S. dollars) that will provide safe, affordable and reliable public transportation system nationwide, senior government official said on Monday. Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Mar Roxas said among the major projects to be pushed through in 2012 include the Chinese-funded "reconfigured" North Rail and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal I. Roxas said DOTC is leading the government's charge to pump prime the economy with major projects on the drawing board to modernize the Philippines'transport system in a bid to dramatically raise rural incomes and literacy, and improve health conditions in the countryside. The DOTC chief said that the government is also mapping a port program for Mindanao that will result in lower shipping rates from Mindanao to Manila, where the market is.