Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo
Almost four years after President Rodrigo Duterte launched its “Build, Build, Build” program, Philippine government’s most ambitious infrastructure plan — computer-generated images which were once used to present a vision are turning into actual roads and bridges.
According to Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, since July 2016, a total of 26,494 kilometers of roads and 5,555 bridges have been completed.
Critics have said it cannot be done and yet the output of 6.5 million workers involved in the “Build, Build, Build” program have proved them otherwise.
Another misconception was that most projects are only situated in Metro Manila or are operated under the modality of public private partnership. This is far from the truth. In fact, less than five percent of the “Build, Build, Build” projects charge toll or operate under a concession agreement.