President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (BBM Media Bureau)



President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has brought his "visionary leadership" to the previous administration's popular "Build, Build, Build" program. Thus, said House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who led on Wednesday, June 21 the groundbreaking rites for the third Candaba viaduct project of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) and NLEX Corp. held at Barangay Dulong Malabon in Pulilan, Bulacan. In his speech, Romualdez, Leyte's 1st district representative thanked President Marcos, Jr. for his unwavering support for the development of the country’s infrastructure sector. “Under his visionary leadership, we have witnessed a renewed commitment to the Build, Build, Build program, which aims to propel our nation towards progress and inclusive growth,” he said. Build, Build, Build (BBB) was billed as the flagship infrastructure modernization program during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte. It is continuing under the Marcos administration via the "Build, Better, More" initiative, or BBM for short. "As our population grows and our economy expands, it is imperative that we invest in the modernization and expansion of our infrastructure,” Romualdez pointed out. On Wednesday, the House leader called for more projects through public-private partnership, saying it is key to modernizing the country’s infrastructure. Targeted for completion in November 2024, the the third Candaba viaduct project will expand the existing viaduct structure by adding inner and outer shoulders to the three lanes in each direction. It is expected to increase the speed of travel from the current 40-60 kilometers per hour (kph) to 60-80 kph. “The candaba third viaduct serves as a symbol of the fruitful partnership between the government and the private sector. It is a testament to what we can achieve when we work together towards a common goal,” he said. The viaduct project, which has been serving as a strategic expressway link connecting Metro Manila and the Central and North Luzon corridor for several decades, has played a vital role in facilitating the movement of people, goods, and services. Romualdez also cited the relentless push of Pampanga solons in the 19th Congress, including Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales, Jr., Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and Reps. Jon Lazatin and Anna York Bondoc, as well as the cooperation of local government officials of Bulacan and Pampanga, which helped make the project a reality.