Announcement of Philippines Transport Survey on September 4, 1968

i N-rf2: ei~ 1818 H STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON D. C. 20433 TELEPHONE: EXECUTIVE 3-6360 September 4, 1968 Subject: Philippines Transport Survey At the request of the Government, a comprehensive transport survey will be undertaken in the Philippines to formulate a systematic plan for transport de- velopment. The United Nations Development Progranne (UMDP) has allocated $788,000 for the survey, for which the World Bank is the Participating And Executing Agency. The Government's contribution will be equivalent to $255,700, including $59,700 • as contribution to UNDP toward local operating costs. The French consulting firm of Metra International, with Sauti of Italy as its subcontractor, will undertake the survey. It is expected that the consultants will begin their field work in the Philippines in September, and that the survey will be completed within 14 months thereafter. The Philippines has a land area of 115,000 square miles, spread over more than 7,000 islands; only about 400 are inhabited, containing a total population of about 34.6 million. The transportation network ccxnprises roads, railroads, international and domestic air routes and numerous inter-island shipping routes, serving over 350 ports. Although the Government is giving great emphasis to improving transportation, the growth in traffic volume, particularly in the last four years,has rendered the existing transport facilities increasingly inadequate. This is particulaxly true • of roads, where maintenance and improvement have not kept pace with rising trans- port requirements. Inadequate transport facilities are at present a serious bottleneck to the development of the Philippine economy. Philippines Transport Survey 1970 to 1980. - 2 - The survey will provide a coordinated transport program for ten years from This includes the determination of investment priorities, the • identification and preparation of feasibility studies for high priority highway and port projects, and recommendations to strengthen the organizations involved in ~he planning, regulation and implementation of transport services. The survey also makes provision for the training abroad of local personnel in the field of transport planning. - 0 - • •