The Duterte administration plans to spend nearly P7 billion more in Right-of-Way (ROW) acquisitions in 2021 compared to this year in what could be described as the final push in the government's flagship "Build, Build, Build" (BBB) program.
House Deputy Speaker and Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said Sunday that under the 2021 National Expenditure Program (NEP), the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are eyeing P14.8 billion and P12.6 billion, respectively, in ROW expenditures.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
In total, this represents P27.4 billion in ROW acquisitions to pave the way for new public infrastructure projects under BBB.
In the existing General Appropriations Act (GAA) or national budget for 2020, Pimentel said the DOTr has P9 billion for ROW payments while the DPWH has P11.5 billion, for a total of P20.5 billion.
The year 2021 is the final full year of President Duterte's term as he is set to step down from his post in late June 2022.
“The DOTr’s ROW outlay is meant to set in motion new rail and maritime transport projects, including the North-South Commuter Railway, the Philippine National Railways’ South Long Haul, and the New Cebu International Container Port,” explained Pimentel, also spokesman of ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
“In the case of the DPWH, the ROW expenses are meant to clear the way for the construction of new expressways, flyovers, bridges, and flood control projects,” he further said.
The Mindanao solon said the law requires both departments to settle all ROW obligations before the start of projects.
ROW expenses are authorized under Republic Act (RA) 10752 – An Act Facilitating the Acquisition of ROW Site or Location for National Government Infrastructure Projects. Under the law, the national government may acquire private real property needed as ROW site or location for any project.
Acquisitions may be made through donation, negotiated sale, expropriation, or any other mode, as provided by law. Section 9 of the Bill of Rights of the 1987 Constitution forbids the taking of private property for public use without just compensation.
The House of Representatives is currently holding a series of briefings on the NEP.