Villar says DPWH not relying on special powers to hasten ‘Build’ program

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar. INQUIRER file photo / LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines — It’s not within the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) assumption to say that President Rodrigo Duterte be given special powers to hasten the administration’s “Build, Build, Build” programs, department Secretary Mark Villar said Tuesday.

“I leave it up to the wisdom of Congress if they want to give us, but we won’t be relying on that, it’s not within our assumptions we’ll be given special powers,” Villar said over ANC’s “Headstart” when asked if he wants the President to be granted special powers.

“At this point, we can implement the projects that we have,” he added.

Villar’s statement comes after Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda filed House Bill 5456, which seeks to give Duterte special powers to “utilize all necessary government resources, exercise police power, and employ executive actions and measures to ensure the effective implementation” of the 75 flagship projects of the administration.

The bill also stated that giving such powers to the Chief Executive would remove certain hindrances to the implementation of projects, such as right-of-way issues and “rigidities in procurement.”

Villar also said that the issue of giving special powers is not something that “we should rely on.”

“If it comes, it comes.  If it doesn’t, then we just have to be prepared to perform and deliver what we promise to deliver,” he said.

“If there are special powers, I can make suggestions about what can be done, obviously. But there are certain things that we’re already doing that will fast track in terms of appraisal, we’ve identified more or less what are the bottlenecks, and we can fix that,” he added.

Edited by JPV