The Dalton Pass East Alignment Road Project (DPEARP) is nearing reality after securing endorsement from the RDC2-Infrastructure Development Committee (RDC2-IDC) during its 4th Quarter Regular Business Meeting on November 14, 2023 in Tuguegarao City. The DPEARP will showcase the country’s longest twin-tunnel road of 6.12 kilometers, which is part of the 23-kilometer road proposed to be funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The DPEARP’s total road length is 77.29 kilometers, with the remaining 54.29 kilometers to be funded locally as the Philippine Government’s counterpart.

The project is under review by the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) and is expected to be approved by the NEDA Board early next year. It is also included in the Infrastructure Flagship Projects under the Build, Better, More Program of the current administration.

The Committee also endorsed to the RDC2 the proposed Philippine Solar-Powered Irrigation Project (PSIP). The project aims to improve agricultural productivity and increase the income of farmers by establishing 8,538 units of Solar-Powered Irrigation Systems (SPIS) to irrigate about 85,380 hectares nationwide. The PSIP is also currently under review by the ICC. The proposed Convention Center of the Provincial Government of Quirino was conditionally endorsed for funding assistance from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority.

Members were likewise apprised on the current developments concerning the proposed flagship irrigation projects to include the Tumauini River Multipurpose Project, the Ilaguen Multipurpose Irrigation and Hydropower Project, and the Magat Dam Sedimentation Countermeasures Project. The experience of the municipality of Baggao on its proposed project under a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme, the Baggao Water Supply Project, was also shared to the members by the PPP Center to inspire other LGUs to explore options for their local flagship projects.

For the first time, the committee mustered the highest attendance rate of 96 percent in its meeting, and it was presided by the Vice-Chair Atty. Robin James A. Gunnacao, the private sector representative of the RDC to the infrastructure sector.