MANILA, Philippines — In a bid to pump life into the COVID-19 pandemic-hit economy, the government is allocating a hefty P1.107 trillion under the proposed 2021 national budget to restart and accelerate the administration’s Build, Build, Build infrastructure program.
President Rodrigo Duterte, in his budget message to Congress, said infrastructure development is “indispensable” in reviving the economy due to its high multiplier effect on economic growth and output.
“Labor-intensive programs, activities, and projects under the Build, Build, Build are expected to generate some 140,000 to 220,000 additional jobs next year and spur the private sector to invest in manufacturing and construction activities, thus laying the foundations for an economic recovery in 2021,” Duterte said.
The allocation for the BBB program restart is 13.4 percent higher than its 2020 allotment of P976 billion.
The President said the program will prioritize projects aimed at improving health infrastructure and transportation and mobility of people and goods amid the pandemic.
“Our proposed infrastructure budget consists of shovel-ready projects on enhancing the delivery of health and essential services and improving transportation and mobility of people and goods amid the pandemic,” Duterte said.
“These projects also aim to facilitate the transformation to a Philippine electronic government (e-government) to help our countrymen cope with the conditions of the post-pandemic environment,” he added.
With this, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) will be receiving an allocation of P667.3 billion and P122 billion respectively in 2021.
The DPWH’s allocation is the second-highest share in the 2021 budget pie, trailing the Education sector with an allotment of P754.4 billion.
The Philippines suffered its first recession in 29 years during the first half of 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has already sickened over 205,000 people nationwide.