INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — A bill proposing a 30-year National Infrastructure Program (NIP), which passed the final reading in the House of Representatives, will allow more time for ongoing large projects to finish, Surigao del Sur 1st District Rep. Romeo Momo said on Tuesday.
“The 30-year infra program was conceptualized because in putting up a big project we need longer time,” Momo said.
“[Whenever] the new administration comes in, sometimes it cannot continue. What’s hard here is that there was an initial investment not only of the government but the private sector as well,” he added.
According to Momo, this would ensure that projects in the program would not be affected by changes in national leadership. He added that it could help the government pursue long-term projects in the face of disasters.
“The adverse effects of the COVID pandemic, coupled with the recent spate of destructive typhoons and floods that struck the country, further highlight the need for longer-range, resilient, and high-impact engineering projects that will more effectively address major disruptive events, while complementing immediate emergency responses,” he said.
The NIP bill passed the final after 254 lawmakers voted in favor of the bill, with three voting against it.