TAGAYTAY CITY, Philippines — House Speaker Alan Cayetano has dismissed as “fake news” Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon’s statement that the Duterte administration’s “build, build, build” infrastructure program has been a “dismal failure.”
Drilon made the remark since only nine out of the 75 flagship projects under the ambitious infrastructure drive has been under construction more than three years after Duterte assumed office in 2016.
READ: Drilon: ‘Build, build, build’ is a dismal failure
For Cayetano, who was chosen by President Rodrigo Duterte to be Speaker, the administration has initiated more infrastructure projects than previous administrations.
“Kahit anong tingin nyo po, kahit ano pong pisikal na litrato, aktwal, statistics, napakaraming nagawa ng Duterte administration compared to the other administrations, at sa budget pa lang makikita mo ito,” the Taguig-Pateros representative said in an interview during the 45th top level management conference of the Kapisanan ng nga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (Association of Broadcasters of the Philippines) in this cit, Thursday.
“So talagang panlilinlang na naman o fake news ang sabihin na failure and ‘Build, build, build,’” he added.
For instance, he said the government has to start from scratch in specific projects like the Metro Manila subway project.
New House committee
Although he admitted there are challenges like lack of skilled workers, Cayetano remained confident of the program and even said the House leadership would form a new committee to look over the government’s flagship programs and projects. He said Tarlac 1st District Rep. Carlos Cojuangco would head the panel.
“And the duty will not only be to criticize but also to propose paano mapablis and even for Congress to be able to propose as an institution other flagship programs,” Cayetano said.