Build, Build, Build...
is the 123-billion Metro Manila Flood Management Project, which is being co-funded by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the World Bank. Others are the
1151-billion Philippine National Railways South Long Haul Line to be financed by ODA loans from China; the 1355.6billion Mega Manila Subway that will be funded by Japanese ODA; and the 1 19.8billion Davao City Bypass Road.
One of the biggest infrastructure plans was also recently sealed with the loan agreement signing of the
1355.6-billion Metro Manila Subway project, the first of its kind in the Philippines, with the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
To skirt the stringent red tape in the implementation of infrastructure projects, the Duterte administration decided to shy away from the traditional Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme adopted by former President Benigno S. Aquino III.
To recall, foreign and local businesses have been frustrated with the Aquino administration’s PPP projects, which often took a long time to kick off due to several government regulations that had to be met.
To hasten project implementation, Duterte decided that all projects will be entirely funded by the government, which his economic managers say should simplify the process.
Dominguez, meanwhile, said that proposals for PPPs to implement infrastructure projects are still welcome.
The finance chief also added that unsolicited proposals from the private sector that require no direct government guarantees and include new technologies or concepts will also be accepted by the government, but should involve projects that “address public need.”
The government has already approved so far the auction of 21 projects, including the overhaul of Metro Manila’s shabby airport and a railway line on Mindanao island in the south. Other projects include upgrading ports, roads, rail links and irrigation.
Aside from elevating the quality of the country’s infrastructure status, Duterte also envisioned that the ambitious “Build, Build, Build” projects will result in the reduction of poverty from 21.6 percent in 2015 to between 13 percent and 15 percent by 2022.
Based on National Economic and Development Authority estimates, the infrastructure program is expected to have generated 106,824 additional jobs last year, while another 823,696 this year; 1.11 million in 2019; 1.23 million in 2020; 1.4 million in 2021; and 1.7 million in 2022.