P3.6 – Trillion Unveiled for BUILD! BUILD! BUILD! Project
Cabinet secretaries outlined infrastructure projects under the Build! Build! Build! Program amounting to P3.6 trillion during the “Dutertenomics” forum held in Pasay City on April 18.
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said that the allocated budget would cover projects for water resources, sewerage and sanitation, solid waste management, maritime, transportation, flood management, social infrastructure, information communications technology, and energy among the many proposed projects including some flagship projects under the Duterte administration.
Pernia said that the number of projects to be covered is still not identified but added that P1.13 trillion would be allocated for 2018, P1.18 trillion for 2019 and P1.29 trillion for 2020 under the three-year rolling infrastructure program (TRIP) remarked as the golden age of infrastructure.
As part of the Build! Build! Build! Project, The North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Harbor Link Segment 10 is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Once completed, travel time from Metro Manila to NLEX would be reduced to 10 minutes and will ease congestion in the Capital Region and as well as promote commerce between Central and North Luzon.
In relation, the P1.5 billion Runway Manila pedestrian bridge connecting Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 to Newport City in Pasay was also launched during the forum. It is the first air-conditioned pedestrian bridge to accommodate up to 2,000 people.
Talks about the Mega Manila Subway is under wraps as the administration waits for Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe and President Duterte to sign the project costing up to P227 billion that would cater to around 370,000 passengers per day upon its completion by 2024.