Sweden offers engineering solutions for PH infra projects

A Swedish delegation intends to collaborate with the Department of Finance (DOF) in seeking engineering solutions for the government’s infrastructure projects.

Swedish Ambassador to the Philippines Harald Fries, along with Business Sweden country manager for the Philippines Ulf Wennblom, spoke with Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III on March 1, 2018 saying that the Volvo Group and Saab Group were interested in participating in the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program.

Fries said that the infrastructure program has been generating so much interest among Swedish businesses.

“For infrastructure, we sell sustainable solutions. We have many decades of successful work in this area in Sweden. The Swedish infrastructure minister has invited Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade to Sweden to study how we do it,” he said.

Meanwhile, Wennblom said that his company has been communicating with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) about addressing traffic congestion in the country.

“We also want to take that forward and build an efficient line on EDSA by integrating rail, buses, and other means of transport to have a complete transport system throughout Metro Manila,” Wennblom said.

Dominguez said that the government is seeking integrated solutions that would link the different transport systems in the country. He also noted that there is a need for “extensive planning on the road and rail networks that need to be built to ensure seamless travel” to and from airports.

The government plans to spend approximately P8.4 trillion in infrastructure until the end of its term in order to boost economic growth by 7-8% starting this year, as well as reduce poverty incidence to 13-15%.

via Business World / Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan