With less than a year left in the Duterte administration, a presidential adviser has urged whomever will be the next leader of the country to continue and fast-track the “good work” that has been done under the President’s term.
Presidential Adviser on Flagship Programs and Projects Secretary Vivencio Dizon on Friday, June 18 gave an update on the progress of the Duterte administration’s ambitious “Build, Build, Build” Program.
“I think it is incumbent upon the next administration to not only continue but to even fast-track all the good work that has been done under the leadership of President Duterte and Secretary Villar and Secretary Tugade,” Dizon said.
President Duterte is set to end his term in 2022.
During the briefing, Dizon reported that the government has completed numerous infrastructure projects under the BBB in a span of five years.
These are 212 airport projects, 446 seaport projects, 10,376 flood mitigation structure, 26,494 kilometers of road, and 5,555 kilometers of bridges.
He also bannered the completion of some flagship projects such as the new passenger terminal building of the Clark International Airport and the Luzon Bypass Infrastructure last year.
Dizon, who also serves as president and Chief Executive Officer of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), highlighted the completion of the New Clark City Phase 1 in 2019.
Out of the 119 infrastructure flagship projects (IFP), the official said 11 IFPs were already completed, while 29 IFPs are projected to be completed before the end of 2022.
On the other hand, 51 IFPs are still under construction and will be completed by 2023 and beyond, which includes the Manila-Clark Railway and other airport projects.
He said that 28 “big-ticket” flagship projects are already on the pipeline such as the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge.
Meanwhile, several infrastructure projects, majority of which are focused on the transportation sector, are yet to be completed.
These are 102 airport projects, 117 seaport projects, 1,090 kilometers of railway, 2,587 flood mitigation structures, 2,515 kilometers of road, and 1,020 kilometers of bridges.
With this, Dizon asked for the public’s patience for the “discomfort” while the government’s infrastructure projects are undergoing construction.
“Pero pagnatapos ‘yan, napakalaki namang ginhawa ang maibibigay sa ating mga kababayan (But once these are completed, these project would bring a significant relief to the people),” he said.