Lacson supports emergency powers for Duterte to hasten ‘Build, Build, Build’
Senator Panfilo M. Lacson said on Friday that he supports any congressional-approved emergency powers bill to be given to President Duterte to accelerate the pace of his multibillion-peso Build, Build, Build (BBB) infrastructure program.
He stressed this as critics claimed that the President’s BBB program is a failure and its low utilization rate of the funds for this program given by Congress and foreign loans.
“I will support that para
matuloy ang ‘Build, Build, Build’ para maging mas efficient ang implementation (I will support it so that the BBB program should proceed and help its efficient implementation.),” Lacson, an anti-pork barrel advocate, said.
On the observation of neophyte Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong’’ Go that the congressional approval of emergency powers would be “too late” as the six-year Duterte presidency ends on June 30, 2022, Lacson disagrees.
“Two-and-one-half years are still a long time. If we grant President Duterte emergency powers, probably it could expedite the whole process, para matuloy ang naka-hold na proyekto, ang big-ticket (So that it would expedite the implementation of big-ticket projects),” he said.
On the observation that there is a mere 25 percent disbursement rate for the BBB program, Lacson replied: “At least there is a jumpstart.”
Lacson pointed out that there is a crossover of the completion schedules of projects to the next administration.
“So hindi naman importante sino ang mag-inaugurate. Ang importante, ang proyekto matapos nang maayos maski medyo over an extended period of time, mapakinabangan nating lahat (Who will inaugurate the completed projects is not important. What is important is that the project is completed even on an extended period of time and it is to be enjoyed by the people)’ ,” he added.
On a query that the government might choke financially when there is an accelerated pace of the BBB program, Lacson said that there are big issues that affect the BBB program such as right-of-way (ROW) acquisitions.
“How can you even start a project kung may issue na ROW? Dapat yan ang unahin nila. Nakaplano naman kung saan dadaan. At ang tulay wala naman right of way kasi dagat yan (How can you start a project when there are ROW issues),” he said.
“I don’t know what’s causing the delay but I think if the granting of emergency powers for the President would help, then we should all support the passage of a law granting him emergency powers,” he added.
Meanwhile, Duterte administration infrastructure czar Vince Dizon on Friday assured the House of Representatives that construction of all 100 infrastructure flagship projects (IFP) included in the BBB program will start before the next president takes over in 2022.
Dizon, Presidential Adviser for Flagship Programs and Projects, said 38 of the projects included in the recently revised list if IFPs will be completed while the “rest will either be partially operarable” in near completion when Duterte steps down as chief executive.
In a letter sent to Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, Dizon assured congressmen of the administration’s unwavering commitment” to the “Build, Build, Build” program.
“In the first half of the Duterte administration, we have begun the process of reversing decades of underspending on infrastructure from an average of only 2 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the past five administrations to close to 6 percent,” claimed Dizon.
Dizon said government expects GDP to grow to 8 percnt by 2022.
This has resulted in “dramatic increases in government expenditure” that significantly contributed to sustained GDP growth.
Earlier, Salceda filed a bill proposing the grant of special powers to President Duterte to help guarantee swift implementation of BBB projects.
The filing of the bill was apparently triggered by criticism leveled by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon at the government for its alleged snail-paced implementation of the BBB projects.
However, Dizon said disclosed that 38 of the 100 IFPs listed under the BBB program have already been completed.
Among the completed projects are the following:
• Delpan Bridge to Napindan Channel Project (DPWH)
• Pulangi 4 Selective Dredging Phase 3 (NPC)
• Mactan-Cebu International Airport (DOTr)
• Bohol-Panglao International Airport (DOTr)
• Cagayan de Oro Passenger Terminal Building (DOTr)
• Cavite Gateway Terminal (DOTr)
• Communication Navigation System/Air Traffic Management (DOTr)
• NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10 (DPWH)
• Laguna Lake Highway (DPWH) • Governor Miranda Bridge (DPWH)
• Marcos Bridge (DPWH)
• Pigalo Bridge (DPWH)
• Anduyan Bridge (DPWH)
• Leyte Tide Embankment Project (DPWH)
• Pasig Marikina River Flood Control Project (DPWH)
• New Clark City Phase 1A (BCDA) “In the new list, 35 are already ongoing, meaning shovels and equipment are already on the ground, 32 will commence construction in six to eight months, 21 are already at the advanced stages of approval, and 12 are at the advanced stages of feasibility studies,” explained Dizon.