There is no room for corruption in implementing infrastructure projects under the “Build Better More” program, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Monday.
“Sa mga proyekto, hindi natin papayagan at palalampasin ang mga katiwalian sa pangangasiwa, ang kapalpakan sa pagdisenyo at sa pagkakagawa, ang mababang kalidad at marupok na mga materyales, ang pagka-antala ng proyekto, at ang kapabayaan sa tamang pagmentina at pagkumpuni (In projects, we will not tolerate and allow corruption in supervision, design and construction failures, low-quality and fragile materials, project delays, and neglect of proper maintenance and repair),” Marcos said in his 4th State of the Nation Address delivered at the Batasang Pambansa complex in Quezon City.
Marcos expressed dismay over the deteriorating state of critical infrastructures, such as the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge in Isabela and the San Juanico Bridge that stretches from Samar to Leyte Island.
He lamented that the Cabagan-Sta. Maria Bridge was “destroyed so quickly” even after it was retrofitted.
He also expressed disappointment over the failure to properly maintain the San Juanico Bridge, the longest bridge along the Pan-Philippine Highway, which was built in August 1969 and completed in 1973 to connect Luzon and Mindanao.
“Hindi dapat ganito. Sa ‘Build Better More,’ higit ang kapakanan at kaligtasan ng mamamayan ang napakamahalaga. Ang mga proyekto, tama dapat ang disenyo. Mataas dapat ang kalidad. Natatapos sa takdang oras. At naaalagaan at namementinang mabuti (This should not be the case. In ‘Build Better More,’ the welfare and safety of the people are of utmost importance. Projects must be designed correctly. They must be of high quality. They must be completed on time. And they must be well cared for and maintained),” Marcos said.
“Asahan ninyo, magpapatuloy ang malawakang programang pang-imprastraktura ng Administrasyon. Ang mga naglalakihang proyekto ay nakalatag na sa buong kapuluan. Mga daan, tulay, tren, paliparan, pantalan, patubig, at murang pabahay (Expect the Administration's massive infrastructure program to continue. Huge projects are already underway across the archipelago – roads, bridges, trains, airports, ports, irrigation, and affordable housing).”
He said some of the infrastructure projects would be completed during his watch, while others would be completed and the benefits would be felt after his term ends in 2028.
“Nagpupundar po kasi tayo para sa kinabukasan (We are laying the foundation for the future). We are not building only for today, but we are building also for tomorrow,” he said.
Marcos directed concerned agencies, such as the Department of Transportation and the Department of Public Works and Highways, to make sure that high-quality infrastructure projects are completed on time.
The North-South Commuter Railway Project, the upgrade of the Metro Rail Transit and Light Rail Transit lines, the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Bicol Project, and the South Luzon Expressway expansion project are among the flagship projects mentioned by Marcos in his SONA.
Infrastructure spending reached PHP1.54 trillion in 2024, higher by 8.9 percent from the PHP1.41 trillion outturn in 2023, according to data from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
Based on the DBM data, the overall infrastructure disbursements in 2024 exceeded the 2024 disbursement program by PHP72.4 billion or 4.9 percent.
The Department of Economic Planning and Development has also been mandated to craft the country’s first 25-year infrastructure masterplan to ensure the continuity of key infrastructure projects.
PNA PHOTO
