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MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine government has started implementing 24/7 construction for major projects in Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao, to address the country’s infrastructure backlog.
Following the mandate of President Rodrigo Duterte, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar has rolled out 24/7 construction of key projects in urban centers nationwide.
This move is seen to help address the horrendous Metro Manila traffic that has dragged down productivity.
“We have a traffic crisis we intend to solve in the next two to 3 years. The Philippines has had an infrastructure deficit in the last 4 decades,” Villar said in a statement on Thursday, August 11.
The Development Budget Coordination Committee had announced that it is increasing the infrastructure program in 2017 to 5.2% of economic growth.
“There is a clamor not only to address the deficiencies, but also to propose an infrastructure program that would eventually ease traffic in our major urban centers,” he added.
In Metro Manila, DPWH said 4 projects are now on 24/7 – the Mandaluyong Main Drainage Project, the road widening and drainage improvement in Quezon Avenue eastbound and in Mother Ignacia, as well as the drainage improvement along EDSA from White Plains in Quezon City to Main Avenue.
“Infrastructure delayed is infrastructure denied. Mechanisms will soon be in place to ensure that projects are built on time,” Villar said.
The DPWH chief added that major urban centers in the Visayas and Mindanao have also implemented the same policy on high-impact projects situated in areas with high population density.
“Our vision is to make our communities liveable and safe through quality projects that are accessible, and on schedule,” Villar said.
He added that the DPWH will also using be one-day concrete for projects along major thoroughfares, like EDSA.
Ernesto Pernia, National Economic and Development Authority chief, had said that the government will “roll out” all stalled public-private partnership (PPP) projects by 2017.
Among these are the P108.10-billion deal to develop, operate, and maintain 5 regional airports; a P23.2-billion connector road project linking the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), the 19-kilometer elevated railway from Niog, Bacoor, to Dasmariñas in Cavite along the Aguinaldo Highway; and the P123-billion Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike. – Rappler.com
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