Five leading presidential candidates on Friday said they will continue the current administration's "Build, Build, Build" program, but each one of them has his or her own focus.
For Vice President Leni Robredo, the second top leading candidate in the recent surveys, all the administration's current programs that have already been signed will be continued "as long as there are no problems."
Robredo said she will prioritize programs related to infrastructure that will benefit rural and transportation developments.
Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso, meanwhile, said he will "continue whatever they have started already with regard to 'Build, Build, Build.'"
"Yung akin naman itutuloy ko (For me, I will continue it) through build more hospitals, more schools, more housing to create more jobs," he added during Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas' presidential forum, which was attended by other candidates.
Senator Panfilo Lacson will also continue the program on the basis that "if a contract has already been perfected, it is impossible not to implement it."
"Pero dapat magshift na tayo sa PPP, public-private partnership, dahil baon na tayo sa utang (But we have to shift to PPP because we are already heavily in debt)," he explained.
Senator Manny Pacquiao said he will continue the "Build, Build, Build" program because he is not yet content with the scope of the project.
"Kulang pa po, hanggang Davao lang, gusto ko ituloy hanggang sa Gensan, papuntang Maguindanao, Cotabato, hanggang sa Zamboanga (It's not yet enough because it only reaches Davao. I want to continue it in General Santos to Maguindanao to Cotabato to Zamboanga)," Pacquiao said, adding it will help boost the economic development of the area.
There is also no reason for de Guzman not to continue the program, particularly related to railways, because it is also part of his agenda if elected in the position. He said it is important to develop the mass transportation system all over the country.
But for other projects that are not yet finalized, he said, the budget allocated for them should instead be dedicated to other sectors, such as health and employment to revive the economy.