Gov't urges stakeholders to submit infra proposals

The government on Monday urged stakeholders to prepare infrastructure project proposals, VSHFL¿FDOO\ XQGHU WKH Roads Leveraging Linkages for Industry and Trade (ROLL IT) Program, in a bid to boost spending for the "Golden Age of Infrastructure," GMA News reported.

"This is part of our New Industrial Policy where infrastructure spending is a national priority and DQ HI¿FLHQW LQIUDVWUXFWXUH system is important for the competitiveness of our industries," Department of Trade and Investment (DTI) Assistant Secretary Rafaelita Aldaba said in an emailed statement.

"Coordination is crucial among government agencies including the local government units, the local industries and other relevant stakeholders in achieving our goals," she said.

ROLL IT is the convergence program between the DTI and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to jointly undertake the planning, monitoring, and development of infrastructure projects in priority economic and manufacturing zones in the Philippines.

According to Board of Investments (BOI) Executive Director Ma. Corazon Halili-Dichosa, projects which will be prioritized are those that will strengthen the growth of industries, and those included in the Industry Roadmapping Program and the Investment Priorities Plan.

The BOI said the proposals must be submitted and validated by March 2017.

"The qualified project proposals will be included in the DPWH's budget line items for Fiscal Year 2018," it said.

The government plans to spend some P8.2 trillion over the next six years, with P860.7 billion allocated for large-scale projects this year alone.