Gaining greater public trust in the government

IN his second SONA on Monday, President Marcos shared with the nation the government’s blueprint to enhance the country’s physical connectivity infrastructure. He said: “One of the keys to continuing economic growth is infrastructure development. So, we will build better, and more. Our P8.3-trillion “Build Better More” Program is currently in progress and being vigorously implemented.”

“Physical connectivity infrastructure—such as roads, bridges, seaports, airports, and mass transport—accounts for 83 percent of this program. Our infrastructure spending will stay at 5 to 6 percent of our GDP,” the President said. “The underlying logic to our infrastructure development is economic efficiency. We are opening up all gateways to mobilize goods and services at less cost and in less time, and ultimately, to drive the economy forward.”

Marcos said the country’s road network plans must link not only our three major islands, but also all prospective sites of economic development. “The 1,200-kilometer Luzon Spine Expressway Network Program will effectively connect Ilocos to Bicol from 20 hours to just 9 hours of travel,” he said.

“Under the Mega-Bridge Program, 12 bridges totaling 90 kilometers will be constructed, connecting islands and areas separated by waters. The Program includes the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge and the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges, each spanning 32 kilometers, and also the Samal Island-Davao City Connector Bridge.”

The President reported that as of June this year, the government has constructed, maintained, and upgraded more than 4,000 kilometers of roads and around 500 bridges across the country. Crucial airport and port development projects across the country have also been completed, including Cebu’s Pier 88 smart port, and the new passenger terminal buildings of Clark Airport and the Port of Calapan.

Marcos said inter-modal connectivity will also be a primary consideration. Roads, bridges and mass transport systems will be interconnected. This network will provide access and passage to vital and bustling economic markets, such as agriculture hubs, tourism sites, and key business districts.

Echoing the President’s statement on the promotion of interconnected transportation across the country, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the agency is speeding up the development of transportation infrastructure projects. He said the DOTr will focus on the development of efficient public transportation to encourage private car owners to use it. (Read, “DOTr rushing infrastructure for transportation, to focus on public modes of mobility,” in the BusinessMirror, July 26, 2023).

“The department will speed up the momentum in completing more transport infrastructures and projects aimed at moving more people, products, and services and trigger economic growth,” Bautista said at the 2023 Post-State of the Nation Address Briefing on Tuesday. He listed some of the priority projects as the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) System, the Light Rail Transit Line 1 Cavite Extension, the Metro Rail Transit Lines 4 and 7, and the Metro Manila Subway.

Also included in the list are public road transport projects such as the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit and Davao Public Transport Modernization Project , along with the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Project, Active Transport, and Edsa Busway.

Aside from mass transport infrastructure, the DOTr is also putting a premium on airports such as the redevelopment of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), the Clark International Airport, the New Manila International Airport, and the Sangley Point International Airport. The Department of Public Works and Highways has also committed to speed up infrastructure development, with Secretary Manuel Bonoan highlighting increased budget utilization and disbursement rate.

Bonoan cited several projects and programs with different levels of implementation: The Philippine High Standard Highway Network Program, the Luzon Spine Expressway Network Program, the Metro Manila Logistics Improvement Program, and the Inter-Island Linkage Bridge Program.

As the President has said, improving our infrastructure is crucial in our push to become an upper middle-income country by 2025. The government’s big-ticket infrastructure projects, when completed, are expected to bring important benefits to the Philippine economy and to the lives of ordinary citizens. Better transportation would help farmers bring their produce to markets and raise the income of the rural population. Improvements in the quality of infrastructure services will help cut the cost of doing business, attract more investment, and enhance productivity around the country. Insufficient infrastructure has been a major constraint to economic growth and poverty reduction in the Philippines, according to the World Bank. With the Marcos administration’s development plan focused on investments through public-private partnerships to address key bottlenecks, quick gains in service delivery is expected. This will ultimately translate into greater public trust in the government.