The Marcos administration will fast-track the implementation of major infrastructure projects in the pipeline to address traffic congestion and to support the revival of the tourism industry, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed to continue the Build, Build, Build program started by the past administration and expand it further if possible.
The government will sustain the infrastructure development spending at 5 to 6 percent of gross domestic product, and encourage the participation of the private sector in the programs.
Manuel Bonoan, DPWH secretary, said in his speech at the Post-SONA (State of the Nation Address) Economic Briefing yesterday infrastructure projects that are ongoing as well as those on the pipeline set for implementation will be the priority of the new administration.
These are the projects that will address the traffic congestion in urbanized areas and enhance linkages toward seaports, airports and railway stations.
Bonoan said the government targets to further increase the country’s high standard highways from 510 kilometers to 1,816 kilometers based on the master plan on network development phases one and two.
DPWH will also fasttrack the completion of projects under the Luzon Expressway Network program to reduce travel time from Ilocos to Bicol from 20 hours to nine hours.
“The perennial traffic congestion in highly urbanized areas is a serious problem in the country. The weak connection between centers or economic activities has been an obstacle to economic development and a cause of the increasing disparity between urban and rural areas,” Bonoan said.
“Expanding the country’s highways and expressways network will alleviate over-concentration of population and development in the urban areas and will give way to regional development,” he added.
He said DPWH will prioritize the construction of more bridges crossing Pasig River, Marikina River and Manggahan Floodway to improve the logistics network of Metro Manila.
The inter-island mega bridges ongoing construction will be fully completed, while DPWH will also ensure the early completion of the detailed engineering design of the other bridges, Bonoan said.
In the same briefing, Cesar Chavez, Department of Transportation (DOTr) undersecretary, said five of the ongoing railway projects will be completed in the next four years.
“(We will implement) full speed ahead, that is our marching order, and we will deliver,” Chavez said.
Both the Light Rail Transit (LRT) line 2 East extension from Marikina to Antipolo and the common station in Quezon City will be completed by the second quarter of 2023, Chavez said.
The LRT-1 extension to Cavite, which is 70 percent complete, is set to be operational in three to four years.
The Philippine National Railways Calamba to Clark segment and the Metro Rail Transit line 7, which is currently 60 percent complete, are both targeted to be operational in 2026 to 2027.
Chavez said procurement and right-of-way acquisition for the Metro Manila Subway is ongoing.
The DOTr will resubmit the Mindanao railway project proposal to the National Economic and Development Authority to pursue its implementation, while the Cebu and Panay railway projects are also in the pipeline, he added.
“The government aims to improve the total passenger experience in our existing railway lines by implementing capacity expansion and reliability improvement programs with the cooperation of the current and future railway operators,” Bonoan said.
“Also we will prioritize the early completion of the ongoing railway projects to further expand the total rail network of the country,” he added.
Bonoan also said DPWH will prioritize programs and projects that will further accelerate the buildup of digital infrastructure in the country and expand digital technologies and transformation efforts for good governance.
