Marcos tells DPWH: Finish infra projects on time, within budget

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Friday ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to finish the government’s infrastructure projects on time and within the allocated budget, adding that the “golden age of infrastructure” will continue under his administration.

Speaking during the agency’s 125th anniversary in Manila, the President said DPWH should continue streamlining its procedures to prevent delays and additional costs and to enforce transparency in all government projects and transactions.

“It continues to be my hope that everyone in the Department of Public Works [and Highways] will remain steadfast in its mandate as well as stay committed to fulfilling this administration’s 8-point Socioeconomic Agenda, by committing to construct and finish critical infrastructure projects on time, on schedule and under budget,” he said.

Mr. Marcos also wanted the country’s infrastructure projects to go beyond just physical infrastructure.

The government’s infrastructure projects, he said, must acknowledge the needs of all individuals, including people with disabilities, pregnant women, the elderly and children.

Mr. Marcos said his administration has initiated an effort to put together different government agencies, such as the DPWH, Department of Tourism and Department of Education, to achieve the common goal.

“It is probably a good moment to shift the focus now, beyond just physical infrastructure and embrace the concept of inclusive and accessible design,” he said.

Should be resilient

He pointed out that the projects built under his administration should be resilient, benefit future generations and not end up being demolished after 10 years.

“What people sometimes forget is that the decision that we make today, we will have to live with for the next 80 to 100 years,” he said. “So, let’s not just think about what’s good for now. They have to last… We paid so much for that. So it has to stay,” he said.

Mr. Marcos also wanted the government’s projects to “incorporate elements of our culture and history into our infrastructure designs to foster a sense of pride and belonging amongst our communities.”

READ: Maharlika to bankroll Marcos infra projects 

The National Economic and Development Authority Board, chaired by the President, has approved 194 high-impact priority projects worth P9 trillion, which included the rehabilitation of the decades-old Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan earlier said 123 of the 194 infrastructure flagship projects were new, which means that only 71 were carried over from the previous administrations. INQ

READ: Let not the ‘golden age of infrastructure’ end – Marcos