A Third World country like ours – archipelagic in geography – needs a national development blueprint that should include, among its primary objectives, a nation-wide infrastructure network that will sustainably connect remote regions in the south to the northern most tip of the country and vice versa.
This is a recognized direction in governance practiced in many progressive western countries – in Australia Oceania, Europe and in the continental Americas – where the citizens and even foreign tourists roam the countryside via efficient road networks.
On my two visits to China in the mid-nineties, I have seen the economic growth in this country of 1.6 billion people brought about by its continuing build-up of road networks, bridges and farm-to-market roads.
Whether the Duterte administration is aiming to copy the Chinese experience or not, note that it has anchored its principal thrust on the boldest, most ambitious infrastructure development program – “Build, Build, Build!”
The 3 Bs aim to spend some P8 to P9 trillion in the next six years to decongest vehicular traffic in highly urbanized regions (like Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, Metro Iloilo) at the same time creating thoroughfares (roads and bridges) that will serve as outlets to heretofore uncharted provincial destinations.
In-charge of the overall infrastructure development program is DPWH Sec. Mark Villar whose energetic leadership will show just how vast the burden is on his young shoulders.
The DPWH budget for this year is P428 B, with P107.8 B earmarked for traffic decongestion, P18.8 B for convergence and rural development, P95.9 B for integrated and seamless transport system and P104.4 for livable, sustainable and resilient communities.
According to statistics from the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report from 2015 to 2016, the Philippines was ranked number 95 in the overall quality of infrastructure.
Would you believe that we are lagging behind Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam in this order? (When I visited Vietnam while covering the 2003 SEAG in Hanoi, I saw that most of the Vietnamese environment was very rural and village (barrio) like in infrastructure development.)
Villar is excited and heartened to bring progress to the provinces.
“We want to create an infrastructure to bring progress to the provinces, to every corner of this country and ultimately, we want to bring down the country’s poverty level from 21.6 percent to 14 percent by 2022,” Villar said.
There are 22 million Filipinos living below the poverty line.
Villar is looking to significantly uplift the quality of life of some 10 million Filipinos. When the road infrastructure is completed, pump priming the economy – pouring in the money in areas where it is much needed – should spur economic and productive activities with excellent rate of return.
In Davao City, DPWH projects include the Davao City By-Pass (South Section Road) and Central Section (Tunnel) and the Panguil Bay bridge.
In Cagayan de Oro, DPWH is finishing the Flood Risk Management Project in the CDO River.
I am hoping that all these infrastructure programs will see fruition as the Duterte administration navigates its way towards successfully federalizing the country and empowering the people.
It is easy to sell an idea (federalism) that already has proven its merits (as in Germany and the US) when extensive infrastructure build-up enables the citizens to improve the quality of their socio-economic status.
Funded by the Official Development assistance loans are fifteen current DPWH projects which include: the Mandaluyong Main Drainage (Ph.2); Central Luzon Link Expressway (Ph.1) Tarlac-Nueva Ecija; Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation Measures in Pampanga Bay;Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (Binalonan-Rosario Section); the FRIMP CDO River; and the Sen. Puyat ave. – Paseo de Roxas Makati Underpass.
DPWH is also planning to build a 180-km toll road that will run from Pagbilao, Quezon to end at the existing Maharlika Highway in San Fernando, Camarines Sur.
Of course, Filipinos expecting progress to happen during the Duterte regime should stay vigilant as there are obvious efforts by the opposition to negate these positive development plans. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) Titus 3:2: “Speak evil of no one, to be peaceable and considerate and to show true humility towards all men.” GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
