Duterte reminds gov’t agencies on timely completion of infra projects

MANILA, Philippines—President Rodrigo Duterte has reminded government agencies to ensure the timely completion of vital infrastructure projects in the country.

In his Memorandum Circular No. 57 signed Feb. 7, Duterte said concerned government agencies “shall strictly observe the laws issuances and policies pertaining to the timely completion of government infrastructure projects, including the imposition of appropriate sanctions for infractions and violations thereof.”

In undertaking government infrastructure projects, government agencies and their heads are asked to ensure that all “all measures to promote the safety of, and mitigate inconvenience to the public are in place.”

Duterte added that the Department of of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), as chair of the Infrastructure Cluster, is tasked to enhance the delivery of public infrastructure by ensuring efficient and transparent management and public investment efficiency.

The DPWH is likewise mandated to improve the quality and reliability of public infrastructure and public investment efficiency and strengthen implementation capacity and budget execution of government agencies which are involved in infrastructure development.

Duterte’s MC 57 came amid the economic team’s bid to exempt around P500 billion of big-ticket infrastructure projects from the government spending ban during the campaign period for the 2019 midterm elections.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is banning all public works construction and the release of public funds from March 29 to May 12. /je

READ: Diokno sees Comelec OK of exemption for pivotal infra