'Build, Build, Build' program for 2019 has P909 billion funds

A TOTAL OF P909.7 billion out of the proposed p3.757 trillion national budget for 2019 will be allotted for the construction of the flagship projects under the "Build, Build, Build" program.

The funding for infrastructure projects represents 24.2 percent of the cash budget for 2019 or 4.6 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). “Investments in sufficient and quality infrastructure will increase economic activity through improved mobility, connectivity and sustainability across the country,” President Rodrigo Duterte emphasized, adding, public infrastructure spending in 2019 is estimated to generate 1.1 million jobs.

The Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) will get the bulk of the 2019 infrastructure budget amounting to P555.7 billion while the Department of Transportation (DOTR) will take P76.1 billion.

Duterte said the two departments will use the amount to provide connectivity for all Filipinos and to implement major infrastructure projects.

Of the DPWH budget, P113.29 billion will be used for the network development including widening of 778.822kilometer roads with P35.93 billion budget and construction of by-pass and diversion roads and new roads with P63.77 billion. The DPWH has also P29.66 billion for the widening, replacement, retrofitting, repair and rehabilitation and construction of new bridges next year.

“Bridges remain an important backbone of our infrastructure investments,” Duterte said.

A total of P56.65 billion is allocated for asset preservation program to keep the roads in good condition while P101.91 billion will be spent for flood management program including the P72.74-billion drainage systems.

Since Metro Manila contributes at least 35 percent to the Philippine economy, DPWH has allotted P25.2 billion for the construction of 35-km Metro Manila subway project while P2 billion will be used to build 17 more stations of Pasig River Ferry Convergence Program.

Duterte also emphasized the need to build more infrastructure projects outside Metro Manila to spur economic activities in the rural areas.

For Luzon area, the projects include the 56-km P4.6-billion Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Commuter project from Solis, Tondo to Los Banos in Laguna; the 38-km P14.04-billion PNR North 1 Project that will have 10 stations from Tutuban in Manila to Malolos, Bulacan; the P17-billion Chico River Pump Irrigation System; P875-million Lower Agno River Irrigation System Extension Project in Pangasinan; and P311million Bongabong River Irrigation Project in Oriental Mindoro.

The listed projects for Visayas, on the other hand, are the P754 million that will go to New Bohol (Panglao) International Airport; P450 million for Catbalogan airport in Samar; P50 million for Tacloban airport in Leyte; P282 million for New Cebu International Container Port Project; P75 million for rehabilitation and improvement of various ports and wharves.

Mindanao also stands to receive P2.9 billion for construction of Mindanao Railway Project; P500 million for the Siargao Airport; P315 million for the Davao International Airport; P400 million for Malitubogmaridagao Irrigation Project Phase II in North Cotabato; P300 million Sapalan River Irrigation Project in Maguindanao; and, P92 million for the Central Mindanao (M’lang) airport.

The bulk of the allocation for the DOTR, P24.6 billion will fund its various railway projects. DOTR has also allotted P2.2 billion for improvement of airports and P627 million for sea transport primarily for implementation of Phase 2 of the P330-million Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project.

In a bid to make 145 cities throughout the country liveable, sustainable and inclusive, Duterte said his administration will continue investing in the infrastructure development outside Metro Manila.

He said some P11.7 billion will be provided for the Assistance to Municipalities, basically to fund local access roads, local bridges, sanitation and health facilities, and potable water system projects, among others. Likewise, some P8.2 billion will be set aside for Conditional Matching Grant to Provinces to pave, repair, and improve around 500km of provincial roads.

With number of Filipino internet users to hit 70 million in 2018, the Duterte administration also continued to invest in information technology infrastructure projects. A total of P1.2 billion and P280 million have been allotted for free internet Wi-fi access in public places and state universities and colleges, respectively, while P177 million for National Government Data Center and P43 million for National Broadband Plan in 2019.