Construction
leadership of President Duterte, is on target. Investments in construction grew by 10.1 percent in the first quarter of 2018. Public construction expanded by 25.1 percent.”
“Build Build Build is Jobs Jobs Jobs. This is providing life to our nation. Unemployment has already decreased to 5.5 percent from 5.7 percent, year-on-year. We expect this figure to shrink further,” he added.
On August 12, the Build Build Build team will launch Jobs Jobs Jobs at the SMX Convention Center from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Build Build Build on track
Since the start of the term of President Duterte, DPWH has built a total of 3,945 kilometers of roads, and 892 bridges. The department has also rehabilitated 939 bridges spanning 40,192 meters, and strengthened 642 bridges spanning 29,260 meters.
Meanwhile, DOTr has completed the construction and rehabilitation of eight international and domestic airports and has already night-rated five airports. The DOTr was also able to establish 10 additional air traffic management radars.
DOTr likewise began the construction of two integrated transport terminals, two train system projects, and started pre-construction activities for the PNR North (Manila-Clark) system. It has also completed 129 commercial port projects and eight social/tourism port projects all over the country.
For its part, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has begun construction of the country’s first smart, resilient metropolis, New Clark City. The Phase 1 of the project includes the construction of the National Government Administrative Center (NGAC). In less than six months, it is now 20 percent complete and ahead of schedule.
“The thousands of jobs created from the Build Build Build program is only the beginning. The government’s infrastructure spending program will also propel economic growth outside of the capital region. It is not just about better infrastructure but about improving the quality of life of each and every Filipino,” BCDA President and CEO Vivencio Dizon said.
TRAIN vital for Build Build Build
The Department of Finance (DOF) emphasized that 70 percent of additional revenues from the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law supports Build Build Build. According to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), infrastructure spending increased by 134.5 percent from P150.4 billion in 2015 to P352.7 billion as of June 2018.
In a joint statement last June 6, the economic managers of the Duterte Administration said, "We must bridge the infrastructure gap that has painfully made our country lag behind our ASEAN neighbors. Through [TRAIN], we seek to create more than one million jobs for our fellow Filipinos through 2022, while reducing logistics costs for businesses, especially micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), many of which are located in the provinces."