HEADLINES: 'P170B rehab to wipe away NAIA's bad rep' | Mar. 19, 2024

Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Tuesday, March 19, 2024.

Today's episode is brought to you by Wilcon Depot, The Philippines' leading home improvement and construction supplies retailer—your Trusted Building Partner.

READ: 'P170B rehab to wipe away NAIA's bad rep'

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday hailed the signing of a 170.6 billion peso deal with San Miguel Corp. (SMC) to rehabilitate the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), saying he was confident this would wipe away the gateway's image as one of the worst in the world. During the ceremonial signing at the Palace, Marcos said the Private Public Partnership Project (PPP) is the «great catch-up plan» that should go beyond the airport's physical design and structure.

BUSINESS: Pasig expressway project scrapped

SAN Miguel Corp. (SMC) has abandoned plans to build the Pasig River Expressway (Parex), given strong opposition to the project by environmental and conservation groups. San Miguel wanted to build a 19-37-kilometer, six-lane and allelevated expressway that would traverse the Pasig River. As proposed, it would start at Radial Road 10 in the city of Manila and end at the planned South East Metro Manila Expressway in the town of Taytay in Rizal province. The direct link between the western and eastern parts of Metro Manila, the firm claimed, would help ease traffic on the metropolis' main highways of EDSA and C-5 and other roads by providing an alternative route for motorists. The project — estimated to cost 95.4 billion pesos with another P4.142 billion to be spent for acquiring right of way — was to be built by a joint venture between San Miguel Holdings Corp. and state-owned Philippine National Construction Corp. It would have added to the company's portfolio of toll roads such as the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, Southern Tagalog Arterial Road, South Luzon Expressway, Skyway System and NAIA Expressway.

READ: Poe warns of looming water interruptions

In other news, concerned agencies and water firms should prepare for the El Niño phenomenon to shield consumers from the effects of the looming dry spell, Sen. Mary Grace Poe said on Monday. The senator