DPWH projects remain on track

Infrastructure projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) under the administration’s “Build Build Build” initiative are on track, although risks of delays remain on the horizon as lawmakers squabble over the 2019 national budget.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, during the Meet Inquirer mulitmedia forum on Wednesday, sought to highlight the progress made almost halfway through his term at the helm of the DPWH.

“In terms of the Build, Build Build, it’s all systems go. Many of these will be targeted for completion by the end of the term of the President,” Villar said.

He explained that 2019 was also a crucial year to roll out new projects as feasibility studies for many of these were completed over the last two years.

Villar said the projects included those being built by the private sector. He cited two elevated expressways that would link the northern and southern portions of Metro Manila, 12 bridges over the Pasig River and an expressway that would provide access between the capital district and San Juan, La Union.

Villar also cited the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Bridge as well as highway projects in Bacolod, Cebu and Tacloban. Also in the pipeline is a Mindanao road network that will link areas in the Zamboanga Peninsula and the rehabilitation of roads in the outskirts of Marawi, the site of a massive rebuilding effort.

The DPWH accounts for P555.7 billion of the proposed P3.757-trillion budget for the year.

On Wednesday, Villar acknowledged that “there might be a slight delay” due to the budget impasse.

“But definitely, it’s something we can overcome. We will still be able to hit our targets,” he said. —MIGUEL R. CAMUS