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Lesson
Objective quantitative assessment of benefits and costs may help in the setting up a mechanism for fair distribution of costs across countries. The IEM economic analysis indicates that the net present value of the project for the Lao PDR could be made positive if higher grant elements were used in the financing by the PRC and Thailand.

Project Number: 34231-013
Project Name: Greater Mekong Subregion: Northern Economic Corridor Project in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Report Date:
Lesson
An agreement for collective maintenance is an essential element for the sustainability of subregional road projects, such as this project. A mechanism needs to be devised for the costs to be shared in proportion to the benefits received by the stakeholders.

Project Number: 34231-013
Project Name: Greater Mekong Subregion: Northern Economic Corridor Project in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Report Date:
Lesson
An effective project implementation entity is important when multiple financiers are involved, in order to ensure uniform standards in the construction of the project road. For the ADB-funded section of the road, the Lao PDR government could keep track of expenditures and verify if timelines and guidelines are followed. This was not the case with the PRC and Thailand financed sections. For example, the PRC used its own design standards for the road without conducting any dialogue with the Lao PDR government.

Project Number: 34231-013
Project Name: Greater Mekong Subregion: Northern Economic Corridor Project in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Report Date:
Lesson
A greater level of upfront efforts in project preparation, particularly in the areas of preparing credible traffic forecasts and identifying road alignments, could pay large dividends. Mitigation measures identified in the RRP to address project risks were largely unsuccessful, and the project was subject to long time delays, problems with land acquisition and procurement, shortfalls in demand, and insufficient funding for maintenance.

Project Number: 33243-013
Project Name: Road Maintenance and Improvement Project
Report Date:
Lesson
Baseline data collection is a priority. At appraisal and during implementation, greater attention should have been given to the design and monitoring framework, especially in establishing measurable indicators and their baseline values, and target values with a realistic time frame to achieve these goals. Higher priority should have been given to ensure that baseline data were collected prior to project implementation, and updated during project implementation and at completion. The absence of baseline data has made this independent evaluation of the project difficult.

Project Number: 33243-013
Project Name: Road Maintenance and Improvement Project
Report Date:
Lesson
Implementing policy reforms entails a complex and long-term process of change. The legislation and policy measures that were enacted required fundamental changes to the roles of several concerned institutions. These types of reforms can take longer than anticipated, adding uncertainty to the realization of actual outputs and outcomes. The full extent of reforms, especially to institutional arrangements, may extend well beyond the usual administrative life of a project loan.

Project Number: 33243-013
Project Name: Road Maintenance and Improvement Project
Report Date:
Lesson
A more independent regulatory body is needed to balance the interests of all stakeholders—the government, toll road operators, road users, communities, and business. TRB lacks a clear vision for the sector, and because of its human and financial resource limitations adopts a passive rather than proactive role. This could be achieved by transforming TRB through the appointment of an independent board with a clear majority of members and the chairperson coming from the private sector. Independent funding could be provided through a direct levy on toll fees and the toll road operators.

Project Number: 33924-014
Project Name: North Luzon Expressway Rehabilitation and Expansion (Loan 7162/1769)
Report Date:
Lesson
Regulation of the toll road sector under TRB remains weak. TRB was established in 1977 to regulate expressways and toll rates while increasing private sector investment in infrastructure projects. It lacks capacity and resources relative to its mandate, however, and in practice only monitors operations, maintenance, and the adjustment of toll rates. TRB lacks independence, remaining under the control of the government. Its executive director is appointed by the president, and all but one member of its board are government officials.

Project Number: 33924-014
Project Name: North Luzon Expressway Rehabilitation and Expansion (Loan 7162/1769)
Report Date:
Lesson
While the loan conversion from dollars to pesos was completed successfully, the price to MNTC of reducing its foreign exchange risk was quite high. Although there are potential benefits to the consumers from removal of the forex factor from the toll rate adjustment formula, the peso has since appreciated further against the dollar and the financial benefits of the conversion to MNTC are mixed. Regarding the issue of equity participation, ADB was seen to be more conservative and slow in its process than was the private sector.

Project Number: 33924-014
Project Name: North Luzon Expressway Rehabilitation and Expansion (Loan 7162/1769)
Report Date:
Lesson
Stronger due diligence on the part of ADB would have identified risk earlier and reduced project delays. The inability of PNCC to raise funds for the project, too, should have been anticipated at a time when most government corporations were strapped for cash and that PNCC had few alternative revenue sources apart from government subsidies. It should have been foreseen that PNCC would need to reduce its exposure in the project.

Project Number: 33924-014
Project Name: North Luzon Expressway Rehabilitation and Expansion (Loan 7162/1769)
Report Date:
Lesson
The right-of-way issue should have been resolved earlier. Land acquisition by the government in the Philippines has been difficult causing delays. Although this was raised at the Board meeting considering the project, not enough attention was given to the potential problems until it was too late.

Project Number: 33924-014
Project Name: North Luzon Expressway Rehabilitation and Expansion (Loan 7162/1769)
Report Date:
Lesson
ADB could have done a more thorough test of the forecasts‘ sensitivity to changes in the basic variables, including tariff price elasticity, lower-than-expected economic growth, and higher gasoline prices. The fact that traffic volumes have been scarcely half those projected by technical consultants at appraisal has meant lower revenues and a less favorable FIRR. While it is understood that a range of projections were made and the lower ones were used, they nevertheless proved to be overly optimistic.

Project Number: 33924-014
Project Name: North Luzon Expressway Rehabilitation and Expansion (Loan 7162/1769)
Report Date:
Lesson
At appraisal there should have been a design monitoring framework which would have identified the objectives and targets. The project was designed to enhance economic development of central and northern Luzon, but no clear or measurable objectives were set at the outset. While economic growth has occurred in this region—3.4% per annum overall—it is not possible to quantify the extent that rehabilitation of an already existing toll road has contributed.

Project Number: 33924-014
Project Name: North Luzon Expressway Rehabilitation and Expansion (Loan 7162/1769)
Report Date: