House Deputy Speaker and Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel on Sunday said the Department of Transportation, and Department of Public Works and Highways will need P63 billion to pay just compensation for rights of way under the build, build, build program of the Duterte administration. DoTr would need at least P19 billion, while DPWH shall have a budget allocation of P44 billion, he said.
“To foster greater transparency, we are renewing our call for both departments to post on their respective websites the list of payees, the amounts paid and the properties acquired to pave the way for infrastructure projects,” he urged the two agencies.
“This is crucially important, considering that the allocations for right of way spending appear as lump sums in the budget,” he said. The P63-billion fund shall be used for the Aklan’s Kalibo International Airport, Capiz’s Roxas Airport, Negros Oriental’s Dumaguete City Airport, Samar’s Calbayog Airport, Zamboanga Sibugay’s Ipil Airport, Zamboanga International Airport; Davao Oriental’s Mati Airport, North Cotabato’s M’lang Airport, Metro Manila’s Subway phase I, North-South Commuter Railway, South Long-Haul Railway, Cebu International Container Port and Mindanao Railway.
Congress has vowed to avoid a repeat in the delay of the passage of the General Appropriations Bill to give way for the implementation of the administration’s build, build, build program.