President Marcos on Saturday said that 71 of the 194 infrastructure flagship projects (IFPs) under his administration’s the Build Better More (BBM) program were started by his predecessor.
In a vlog posted on his social media pages, the President disclosed that of the 194 IFPs, 123 were initiated by his administration, while the rest were started during the term of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Sometimes we have an attitude in the Philippines, as well as in other places, that when the administration changes, the thinking is that everything that the previous administration did are stopped because they say nothing good happened. That’s not right—if the project is good, why won’t we continue it? That’s not the way of thinking that will bring us to a new Philippines,” he said.
“If the study for the [previous] project was thorough and there are really benefits, it should push through. Infrastructure is [for] progress, especially if accompanied by stringent study—in that way no funds will be wasted because every project will benefit the people,” he added.
The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) board, which Mr. Marcos chairs, announced the approval of P9 trillion worth of infrastructure projects early this month.
67 projects approved
The President said projects generate more jobs, decongest traffic, enhance food security, ease price inflation, prepare the country for climate change, improve water supply, boost digitalization, make electricity affordable, support tourism and attract more investments.
He said aside from the national budget, the BBM program will be funded through official development assistance or public-private partnerships.
Most of the projects involve physical connectivity and water resources, including projects in irrigation, water supply and flood management, Socio-economic Planning Secretary and Neda Director General Arsenio Baliscan said.
Balisacan said 67 of the projects had already been approved or were already being implemented by various government agencies. Among these are the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit Project, Davao Public Transport Modernization Project, Edsa Greenways, LRT 2 West Extension and the Metro Manila Line 1 Cavite Extension.
Also among the projects initiated under the Duterte administration are the Metro Manila Subway Project Phase 1, Mindanao Rail Project Phase 1, MRT 3 Rehabilitation Project, MRT 4, MRT 7 Project, New Cebu International Container Port Project, Bulacan International Airport, North South Commuter Railway, PNR South Long Haul and the Subic Clark Railway.
3 projects ongoing
On top of the 67 projects, Balisacan said three other projects already being implemented include the Maritime Safety Enhancement Project, Cavite-Laguna Expressway, Central Luzon Link Expressway Phase 1, North Luzon Expressway Segment 8.2, South Luzon Expressway Toll Road 5 Segment 1, plus other irrigation, fishery and road projects by the National Irrigation Administration and the Department of Agriculture.
The New Dumaguete Airport Development Project (Bacong International Airport) and the Integrated Flood Resilience and Adaptation Project-Phase 1 have secured approval or have been approved for implementation, he said, noting that six more projects are awaiting government approval.
The Neda chief said 45 IFPs are currently under project preparations, and another 44 under preproject preparations. INQ