WALANG ATRASAN SA ‘BBB’ PROJECTS KAHIT MAY COVID-19 PANDEMIC

WALANG aalising big-ticket infrastructure projects sa ‘Build, Build, Build’ program ng pamahalaan kahit pa may COVID-19 pandemic, ayon sa economic team ng bansa.

Sa isang virtual briefing kahapon, sinabi ng mga economic manager na ipagpapatuloy ng gobyerno ang ambisyosong infrastructure spending program nito.

“We are committed to that and we will fund it from the usual sources like taxes and borrowings,” pahayag ni Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III.

Sa nasabing briefing ay tinanong si Dominguez kung may mga big-ticket project na kailangang alisin upang bigyang-daan ang pagtustos sa paglaban sa ­COVID-19.

“I resent this term white elephant because we do not have any white elephant projects in this administration,” ani Dominguez.

Noong Nobyembre ay inaprubahan ng administrasyong Duterte ang revised list ng flagship projects sa ilalim ng Build, Build, Build program na nagkakahalaga ng P4.2 trillion. Ang initial list ay nagkakahalaga ng P8.2 trillion.

Sinabi ni Presidential adviser for flagship programs and projects Vivencio Dizon na lahat ng 100 infrastructure projects ay nakatakdang simulan sa ilalim ng kasaluku­yang administrasyon, at 30%  ang matatapos.

Ayon kay Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar, walang proyektong babaklasin sa listahan.

“At this point, the Build, Build, Build is continuing as is, the projects that we conti­nue to pursue, all the big-ticket projects,” sabi ni Villar sa parehong briefing.

“Of course if adjustments need to be made then we will make adjustments, but at this point, I think no major cancellations or no major changes in the realm of the roads for the DPWH,” dagdag pa niya.         PMRT