By Mario Casayuran
Senator Imee R. Marcos, chairwoman of the Senate Economic Affairs Committee, on Monday said the government need not give up infrastructure projects in its "Build, Build, Build" (BBB) program to finance the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Marcos said the government should consider a BBB option by auctioning parts of the "Build, Build, Build" projects to private bidders which is aligned with the public-private partnership (PPP) concept.
Senator Imee Marcos (Senator Imee Marcos Official Facebook Page / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“Long- delayed PPP and local joint-venture projects should finally be decided and urgently green-lighted. So many PPP have been pending with government in the past four years!” she said.
“Private bidders with cash and generosity to spare can help the government in this time of crisis by bidding for parts of BBB projects,” she added.
“More innovative solutions are needed to shore up dwindling government funds and keep the economy afloat while COVID-19 stays around,” she said.
Marcos agrees with the government’s position that the BBB program “must push onward with minimal compromise,” to jump-start the economy from its passive state once the pandemic eases.
Thousands of construction workers will also be able to keep their jobs and find new ones if BBB projects continue, she said.