President Rodrigo Duterte has instructed all concerned government agencies to fast-track the infrastructure projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program to generate at least two- million jobs by the end of his term in 2022, Malacañang said Tuesday.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the government was targeting 75 flagship projects to be completed before 2022.
“These are infrastructure and social projects necessary to boost economic activity especially in the provinces, generate jobs, and, ultimately, lift many in the rural areas from poverty,” Roque said in a press briefing.
However, some of the mega projects are facing delays and moving slowly while other projects are still in the drawing board, the Palace official admitted.
Roque said the President seemed not satisfied with the ongoing projects but wanted it done faster and meet the scheduled target.
Among the projects the President wants to finish include the Clark Airport expansion project; the Metro Manila subway; the North-South railway projects connecting Los Baños in Laguna to Tutuban in Manila and to the Clark free port; the 130-kilometer first phase of the Mindanao railway to connect Digos, Davao City, and Tagum; the Kaliwa water supply project to ensure supply to the metropolis; and the Cavite flood control project.
Roque said the President lamented the slow pace in the implementation of projects in the provinces unlike in Metro Manila.
Most of these undertakings are to be financed through the national budget or by low-interest official development assistance loans.
The projects approved this year more than doubled the P400-billion total cost of the 17 projects approved in 2016.
The Palace said that the national government had allocated P1.1 trillion for infrastructure development.
The huge infrastructure spending will be financed in part by proceeds from the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law.