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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Tara, inspect!': Dizon nixes suggestion to halt major infra projects amid skyrocketing fuel prices

'Tara, inspect!': Dizon nixes suggestion to halt major infra projects amid skyrocketing fuel prices

Published Apr 13, 2026 02:42 pm
(TARA YAP/MB FILE PHOTO)
(TARA YAP/MB FILE PHOTO)
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon on Monday, April 13, dismissed an economist’s call to halt major infrastructure and public works projects, saying these should continue despite rising fuel prices in the country.
Earlier, economist JC Punongbayan said government spending should be redirected to more immediate relief, as some major infrastructure projects may not be as urgent at this time of crisis.
“With all due respect to him, kabaliktaran ang dapat natin gawin. Habang nasa krisis tayo, dapat bilisan pa natin lalo ang mga infrastructure projects natin (With all due respect to him, we should do the opposite. While we are in a crisis, we should accelerate our infrastructure projects even more),” said during an inspection of a road and drainage project along Bonifacio Drive in Manila, 
Per Dizon, such projects are meant to decongest roads, and stopping them could lead to heavier traffic.
“Kasi, unang-una, ito ‘yung mga nagpapabilis ng traffic. Kapag hininto ko ito, anong mangyayari? Magkaka-traffic (First of all, these are what help ease traffic. If I stop them, what will happen? Traffic will worsen),” he added.
Dizon said Punongbayan should join him in project inspections to see that slowing infrastructure works would worsen traffic.
“Siguro, ang maganda kay JC Punongbayan ay sumama siya sakin mag-inspect, kasi pag pinabagal mo ito, magtra-traffic lalo (Perhaps it would be good for JC Punongbayan to join me in inspections, because if you slow these down, traffic will worsen even more),” he said.
“Lalong titindi ang konsumo ng gasolina ng mga sasakyan natin. So, medyo mali ata yung suggestion (It will further increase the fuel consumption of our vehicles. So, the suggestion may be somewhat misguided),” he went on.
On March 24, President Marcos declared a national energy emergency due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has impacted the "availability and stability" of the country's energy supply.
It can be recalled that the government has also introduced energy-saving measures, including a four-day workweek in some offices, to help reduce electricity use and fuel consumption.

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