President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. file photo/Screengrab from RTVM
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday urged the nation to carry on with what he and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan termed as the “golden age of infrastructure.”
He was referring to the era when his father, the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., was developing the country’s public works.
During the 125th Anniversary of DPWH, Bonoan told the President that he (Bonoan) had served under the elder Marcos.
“I was there for 44 years, and of those 44 years, the first half was during the ‘golden era’ of infrastructure development under your father, Mr. President,” Bonoan told Marcos.
In turn, the President said the ‘golden era’ must not end.
“Secretary. Manny mentioned, the golden age of infrastructure,” he acknowledged.
“Well, huwag natin patapusin ‘yung golden age of infrastructure,’ he urged the people in the audience.
(Let us not end the golden age of infrastructure.)
“Ipagpatuloy natin ang golden age of infrastructure ngayon dahil naman kailangan na kailangan ng ating mga kababayan,” he said.
(Let us continue the golden age of infrastructure because our countrymen really, really need it.)
However, records show that the President’s father’s supposed ‘golden era’ was marred with rampant corruption and cronyism.
According to World Bank and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes, public funds between $5 billion and $10 billion were stolen from the country’s coffers during the leadership of Marcos Sr.
Records in Martial Law Museum also stated Philippines’ debt ballooned under the late Marcos.
It went from $0.36 billion in 1961 to $28.26 billion in 1986.
“Our debts explain the growth, especially in infrastructure, primarily touted by some to assess the economic gains of the Marcos regime,” read the data from the Museum.
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