Infra spending ceiling for 2017 set at P861 billion

THE government will seek to spend 5.4% of GDP, or about P861 billion, next year on infrastructure projects, with priority going to developing areas outside the Mega Manila region.

In a statement, Finance Undersecretary Antonette C. Tionko said that infrastructure spending for 2017, will more than double the last government’s annual infrastructure spending.

She said that the goal of the current government is to transform the Philippine economy to an inclusive one by developing areas outside Mega Manila. She added that the inclusive growth agenda will lift 1.5 million Filipinos from poverty each year.

She said that Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, has given instructions to scale up and prioritize the development of infrastructure projects that would have an impact on areas outside the so-called Mega Manila region, which consists of the capital region plus the highly- developed provinces that form its hinterland.

“These areas of focus include the Cordillera Administrative Region, Eastern Visayas and Mindanao, particularly the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or ARMM,” she said.

In the statement, she said that the government has placed a premium on the improvement of the island-wide transportation infrastructure network in Mindanao, and also “future-proofing” them from traffic jams and airport congestion.

Infrastructure projects in Mindanao include the 2,000-kilometer Mindanao Railway Project, modernization of the Davao Sasa Port, expansion of the Francisco Bangoy (Davao) International Airport, development of the Laguindingan Airport in the north of the island, the Mindanao Logistics Infrastructure Network, and the Rural Road Development Program.

Ms. Tionko said: “These projects, and those that will be added to this list, are worthwhile endeavors that should help provide opportunities and uplift the lives of our people in Mindanao once they come into fruition.”

This inclusive growth agenda involves dispersing growth nationwide, lifting 1.5 million Filipinos from poverty each year and creating enough jobs for all, she said.

“Of course, among the main concerns for Mindanao has always been the peace and order situation in parts of the island. But we are confident that this shall soon be addressed by the government, stakeholders, and concerned parties. When that happens, we expect investments in Mindanao to pick up significantly more in the coming years,” she said. —