Roxas vows on time completion of infra projects

MANILA, Philippines—Transportation and Communications Secretary Mar Roxas assured bankers and investors that the government’s infrastructure projects will be completed on time.

“(S)ome of these projects happen faster or slower, because we need to follow necessary [feasibility study and administrative] steps to ensure that we’re able to do our work most efficiently, at the fastest pace, at the least cost to the taxpayer and to the users,” Roxas said in a statement Friday after the Chambers of Thrift Banks general members meeting in Makati City.

Roxas invited bankers and investors at the meeting to invest in key projects of the government saying that they could gain higher returns, the statement said.

The DOTC was working closely with the Department of Tourism to identify the projects that would be the most cost-effective and would deliver the highest returns for investors, he said.

Among the projects Roxas wanted bankers to invest into are airports in Puerto Princesa in Palawan, Panglao in Bohol and Legaspi in Albay. These airport are expected to boost tourism in those provinces.

In Mindanao, the Laguindingan Airport project is seen to help the agriculture and manufacturing industry of the region.

“These projects will have multiplier effect and result in more stores and commercial establishments, more factories and industrial plants built, hence the creation of more jobs for rural folks.  It will result in more consumer spending in the localities where these projects are located,” Roxas said.