Article by:
Azer Parrocha
MANILA – Unfinished infrastructure projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program are not going to be white elephants because they underwent thorough assessment by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) before they were approved, Malacañang said.
Acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar made this comment after presidential bet Senator Ping Lacson’s remark in a recent presidential debate asking Filipinos to discern whether or not the “Build, Build, Build” program is successful if only 12 out of the 118 projects were accomplished.
He dismissed as “speculations” that these projects would be abandoned for various reasons.
“Lahat ng project na ginagawa ng gobyerno lalung-lalo na iyong mga big-ticket projects ay pinag-aralan ng NEDA. Iyong ating mga ekonomista diyan sa NEDA ay mga professional, sila ay nandiyan hindi lang para magdesisyon lang nang ganun-ganun lang (All projects done by government, especially big-ticket projects were thoroughly reviewed by NEDA. Our economists in NEDA are professionals and they’re there not to make hasty decisions like that),” Andanar said in an interview on Daily Tribune’s “Straight Talk” program on Tuesday.
He said these projects are taking time to be completed precisely because they require studies and detailed planning.
“Kapag sinabi mong maging isang puting elepante, eh ibig sabihin noon ay hindi siya napag-aralan nang husto (When you say white elephant, it means they was not thoroughly assessed). And I would beg to disagree na magiging white elephant itong malalaking projects na ito sapagkat iyon nga, nandiyan iyong ating checks and balance natin eh – hindi lang sa NEDA nandiyan din iyong Congress (that these big projects will become white elephants because they went through checks and balances–not just the NEDA but also Congress),” he added.
He emphasized the importance of “Build, Build, Build” in helping generate jobs and livelihood amid the pandemic-induced recession.
“Doon pa lang makikita mo na, the 6.5 million to 7 million or 8 million jobs na nailikha ng BBB ay isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit naging inclusive iyong ating economy (As you can see, the 6.5 million to 7 million or 8 million jobs created by the BBB is one of the reasons why our economy has become inclusive),” he said.
Asked to name an infrastructure project where Duterte should be remembered, Andanar said there were “too many to mention.”
He cited ongoing projects such as the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) and NLEX-SLEX Connector Road Project as well as completed projects such as the Bohol-Panglao International Airport and the Bicol International Airport among others.
“The infrastructure program of this government has never been this good kung titingnan mo iyong (if you look at) history. But moving forward, dapat kasi itong mga (these) Build, Build, Build projects na mga ito, [they] should be there regardless of who is the one sitting as president kasi ito naman ay para sa lahat ng mga kababayan natin (because these are for all of our countrymen),” he added.
Andanar said continuing and completing projects handed down from the previous administration must also be considered part of the Duterte administration’s accomplishments.
“The maturity of a bureaucracy and the maturity of a country is also measured by the continuity of the programs,” he said.
Earlier, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar insisted that the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program was a success.
He said if there were infra projects that were not implemented, it is because the government went for the projects with “high rate of returns.”
Villar, who is currently running for senator in the May polls, also attributed the success of his campaign to the infrastructure program. He is currently top 12 in recent senatorial surveys. (PNA)
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