PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has vowed not only to continue but to further expand the infrastructure program of his predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
During his first State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, July 25, 2022, Marcos said the backbone of the economy is infrastructure, as it benefits many sectors in the society, such as agriculture, education, general economic activity and tourism.
“We shall confidently build on this firm foundation established by my predecessor. As it is in building an edifice, we must keep the momentum, and aspire to build better more,” he said.
Marcos said ongoing infrastructure projects that would benefit the public will be continued.
He said infrastructure development spending will be sustained at five to six percent of Growth Domestic Product.
Tourism
Marcos said in order to boost the country’s tourism, which has been in drought over the past two years due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, his government will make it more convenient for travelers to go around the country through road improvements in tourism spots, including the undiscovered places.
He said airports in the country will be upgraded and create more international airports to help decongest the bottleneck in the Manila airport.
He said these programs will be led by the Department of Tourism, together with the Department of Public Works and Highways.
“Tourism is not only an important economic development tool but the abundance of opportunities that the sector creates in terms of regular employment and even job creation at the grassroots level is undeniable,” said Marcos.
“To foster the Filipino brand is to spark our sense of pride and reaffirm our strong sense of identity. It is time to welcome the rest of the world with an enhanced Filipino brand that is unique, attractive, and creative,” he added.
Railway system
Marcos committed to finish current railway projects in the country, which include the North-South Commuter Railway System; 33-kilometer Metro Manila Subway Project; 147-kilometer North-South Commuter Railway System; 12-kilometer LRT-1 Cavite Extension; 23-kilometer MRT-7; and the Common Station that will connect LRT-1, MRT-3 and MRT-7.
He said larger scale railway systems like the 102-kilometer Mindanao Railway Project, the Panay Railway Project, and the Cebu railway system will be integrated as a vital part of the country’s transport and communications systems.
He said roads and transport systems like the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit, Davao High Priority Bus System, Ilocos Norte Transportation Hub, and the El Nido Transport Terminal will continue to be improved.
“My order to the Department of Transportation or DOTr is really very simple: full speed ahead,” said Marcos.
Marcos also highlighted the importance of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) for the expansion of infrastructure and transportation projects.
“Public Private Partnerships or PPPs hold great potential for that expansion, for infrastructure development and for innovation,” he said. (SunStar Philippines)