Ranking solon asks PBBM to prioritize these 2 Bicol infra projects

Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte hopes that the Marcos administration's commitment to continue the previous leadership's infrastructure modernization program would involve the completion of two flagship transportation projects in his home region of Bicol.

These two delayed projects according to Villafuerte are the expansion of the Naga Airport and the rollout of the Philippine National Railways-South Long Haul (PNR-Bicol) project.

“The President’s reprise of his commitment last year to keep going this year and onwards the unmatched infra spending of the previous government deserves our full and unequivocal support,” said the Bicol solon.

“I am hoping such an excellent pursuit would include the expansion of the Naga Airport, which would enable more and bigger planes or jets to fly in and out of this gateway, and the rollout of the PNR-Bicol project, which would cut travel time by road trip from Manila to the region from about 12 hours to just four hours," he noted

The twin projects are seen to energize economic activity and generate jobs in Bicol as infrastructure investments have the highest multiplier effect on the economy.

Villafuerte issued this statement as the President promised just recently to pursue the implementation of big-ticket infrastructure projects that would spell economic development and job generation.

Leading the launching of the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) in Valenzuela City, President Marcos said the event proved his Administration’s commitment to continue the projects initiated by the former Duterte administration as he vowed to build better and more infrastructure.

“We will continue to invest and improve on our transportation systems as well as pursue more projects in the years to come, so that Filipinos can gain greater access to places of work, commerce, recreation and other vital areas,” President Marcos said. “Having an effective and efficient transportation system will have multiplier effects on employment, the economy, and our society; it will also bring comfort, convenience, and an easier life for all.”

“We owe it to the Filipino people to build major roads and critical infrastructure that will not only spur progress and social change but also promote interconnectivity, ease traffic, and reduce their travel time,” Mr. Marcos said.

In last December’s Commission on Appointments (CA) committee hearing on the confirmation of Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista, Villafuerte bewailed that even though the administration of the late President Benigno S. Aquino III had already set aside funds for the modernization of the Naga Airport, this project has yet to take off because of the failure of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to actively participate in the protracted legal battle over the expropriation of private lands to be covered by the extension of this airport’s runway.

Villafuerte, who is CA majority leader, also complained to Bautista that despite PNR Bicol project being a priority undertaking of the previous Duterte administration under its centerpiece program “Build, Build, Build,” this railway plan had similarly failed to move forward after the initial reports that this undertaking would be funded mainly by China and built by a joint venture (JV) of three Chinese companies.

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He was referring to the reported signing in January 2022 of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between DOTr and the JV firms China Railway Group Ltd., China Railway No. 3 Engineering Group Co. Ltd. and China Railway Engineering Consulting Group Co. Ltd. (CREC JV) on a P142-billion Design-Build contract for the design and construction of Phase 1 of this PNR Bicol project, which will cover a 380-kilometer (km) railway from Calamba, Laguna to Daraga, Albay.

“I fully support your nomination, Sec , but I just have to put on record that the Naga Airport has been budgeted, approved by the NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority). It's a flagship project. When (then-DOTr) Secretary Tugade assumed office , that was the first thing I raised sa kanya, but unfortunately, six years has passed, walang nangyari (nothing happened),” Villafuerte said at the CA panel hearing.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will continue Build, Build, Build under the name "Build, Better, More", it was earlier reported.