Build, Build, Build is beyond 119 flagship projects, says ex-BBB panel chair

While only 12 out of 119 infrastructure flagship projects (IFPs) have been completed so far, the Duterte administration’s Build, Build, Build program has accomplished more projects outside the so-called IFPs or big-ticket projects, a former official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Friday.

“While 119 Infrastructure Flagship Projects are part of Build, Build, Build, there are at least 20,000 other projects under the same portfolio,” former DPWH Build, Build, Build committee chairperson Anna Mae Lamentillo said in an emailed statement.

Lamentillo made the statement after the DPWH reported that only 12 out of 119 IFPs were completed to date, totaling P70.65 billion or 1.4% of the P5.08 trillion total cost of investments to complete the 119 IFPs.

Three largest projects completed in terms of cost include the MRT-3 Rehabilitation Project at P21.966 billion, the New Clark City Phase 1 at P18 billion, and the Clark International Airport Expansion project at P14.972 billion.

An additional seven IFPs will be completed by June this year—the last month of the Duterte regime—which include the Unified Grand Central Station and the LRT2 East Extension projects.

With this, Lamentillo said that “[s]ince July 2016, the Build, Build, Build team have completed 29,264 kilometers of roads, 5,950 bridges, 11,340 flood control projects, 222 evacuation centers, 150,149 classrooms, 214 airport projects, and 451 seaport projects.”

“Besides, most IFP projects (i.e. Metro Manila Subway, Panguil Bay Bridge, Bataan Cavite Interlink Bridge) are already at advanced stages of implementation and are designed and planned for a multi-year implementation,” she added.

The Metro Manila Subway, Panguil Bay Bridge, Bataan Cavite Interlink Bridge, as well as the Mindanao Railway project, and the North South Commuter Railway project are among the projects to be transitioned to the next administration for completion.

DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain said the Duterte administration’s promise of ushering in the golden age of infrastructure “does not stop with this administration it goes beyond the succeeding administrations — if we want to ensure there will be a closure in the infrastructure gap comparatively with neighboring countries.”—AOL, GMA News