Brace for more traffic when Duterte admin starts 'Build, Build, Build'

The public should brace for "a lot of traffic" once projects under the Duterte administration's ambitious infrastructure plan begin.

In a Balitanghali report by Lei Alviz on Tuesday, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the administration's "Build, Build, Build" plan meant to spur economic development could affect the traffic situation.

"Can you imagine if we do these constructions at the same time? So there will be a lot of traffic but bear with us and maybe in a few years, things will turn out to be much much better," Diokno said.

A Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) study had previously warned that traffic jams could cost the Philippines P6 billion a day by 2030.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Danilo Lim earlier said the infrastructure projects under the "Build, Build, Build" program would be key to solving the traffic problem.

"Ang solusyon talaga sa problema ng trapiko sa Metro Manila ay infrastructure. Tama itong ginagawa ng ating gobyerno ngayon na 'Build Build Build.' 'Yan talaga ang permanenteng solusyon sa problema ng trapik. 'Pag natapos yang projects na 'yan luluwag ang sitwasyon sa traffic sa Metro Manila," he said.

The Duterte administration has allocated about P8.2 trillion for the "golden age of infrastructure," which includes some 30 big-ticket projects, over the next six years. —Anna Felicia Bajo/JST, GMA News