Over 6.5 million jobs have been generated under the Duterte administration's flagship "Build, Build, Build" infrastructure modernization program since 2016.
Thus, bared Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark A. Villar on Friday, June 18, adding that the program has led to the construction of 26,494 kilometers (km) of roads all over the country in the past five years.
Villar said that since 2016, the infrastructure program was able to employ 6.5 million workers; build and improve 26,494 km of roads and 5,555 km of bridges; and implement 10,376 flood mitigation projects nationwide.
For the final year of the Duterte administration, the secretary said the national government aims to generate 1.6 million more jobs.
"Ang target po natin this year is 1.6 million jobs kaya napakalaking bagay po na habang ginagawa ay nakakapag-generate ng trabaho. At pag natapos na ang project, siyempre magkakaroon ng mga investment. Magkakaroon ng mga opportunities ating mga kababayan lalo na sa probinsya dahil magkakaroon ng connectivity (Our target this year is to generate 1.6 million jobs, that's why it's important to generate jobs while the projects are ongoing. Once these are done, of course investments will follow. Opportunities will come to our countrymen especially in the provinces because of the connectivity)," Villar said during a press briefing.
The DPWH head honcho and "chief builder" of the current administration further disclosed that the infrastructure spending of the government almost tripled from 2016 to 2020 when compared to figures from 2011 to 2015.
From 2011 to 2015, the total project accomplishment was pegged at only P820 billion. But for the Duterte years, the total project accomplishment has reached P2.536 trillion.
"The accomplishment is almost more than times three over similar time period," he said.
Villar also said that they expect to complete the construction of some of the flagship projects under the Build, Build, Build program within the year. These include the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX), the extension of Cavite-Laguna Expressway, and the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge.