The country’s Department of Public Works & Highways (DPWH) signed the contract with Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong. Arup will help DPWH prepare feasibility studies and detailed engineering designs for inter-island bridges as well as tunnels and highways.

In October 2017, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a US$100 million loan to support the Philippine government in accelerating the delivery of public infrastructure projects under its ‘Build, Build, Build’ programme. Arup was selected by DPWH using ADB’s procurement standards.

“The Philippine government is embarking on an ambitious, but much-needed infrastructure development program,” said DPWH secretary Mark Villar. “Major infrastructure projects involving the construction of tunnels through mountainous areas and long-span bridges across islands are unprecedented in the Philippines. A world-class firm like Arup will help our government generate large-scale, state-of-the-art infrastructure projects, optimise public investment, and realise our infrastructure vision."

Hiroaki Yamaguchi, director of the transport and communications division for ADB’s Southeast Asia department said: “DPWH’s selection of Arup, which has decades of experience in mega transport projects, shows that the Philippine government is becoming increasingly savvy in managing large-scale infrastructure projects. We expect Arup to share its cutting-edge technology, innovation, and know-how with the government. ADB looks forward to continuing to work with both DPWH and Arup to help the government realise its ambitious projects under the ‘Build, Build, Build’ programme.”