Do you believe in superheroes?
No, we’re not talking about caped crusaders with uncanny abilities. By superheroes, we mean ordinary people who have made extraordinary improvements on other people’s lives. While many of these do-gooders go unnoticed, sometimes their actions make such a significant impact that a small “thank you” doesn’t seem enough to express our gratitude.
In the field of real estate, superheroes abound. Let us honor those who have helped improve housing and infrastructure in the country, one step at a time.
The so-called poster boy of the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program, Vivencio “Vince” Dizon is the current head of the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA). At a young age of 45, he is at the helm of various major infrastructure projects under the Duterte administration. This includes the New Clark City, which is the 9,450-hectare development currently hosting the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Dizon is no stranger to government work. His first job out of college was as an economic research staff for the Philippine Senate. He also served as a consultant of former Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, as an Undersecretary for Political Affairs of the Office of the President, and as chief of staff of Sen. Edgardo Angara’s team.
Dizon is not your typical politician. Many praise his cool, collected demeanor in handling projects with tight deadlines and intense pressure. Under his leadership, the BCDA contributed P8.2 billion to the programs of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the major stakeholder of the group. Construction rate increased to 12.7 percent from 2016 to 2017, implying an increase in implemented projects.
Dizon still has his share of detractors though. The Build, Build, Build project of the government has been called a “dismal failure” by critics, with only nine of 75 flagship projects underway. To this, Dizon responds that while some projects have been shelved, a “massive growth” in terms of economy has been felt in recent years due to the booming construction sector.
The Duterte administration has been recorded to have spent a trillion pesos in infrastructure from 2016 to 2018, suggesting that the government has been doing a lot in order to build better facilities and attract more new investments to the country.
Even with all eyes on him, Dizon manages to keep his cool and push towards the completion of the projects.
A notable milestone would be the unveiling of the New Clark City Sports Hub, which has met its deadline to function as a venue of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. Featuring a stadium and aquatic center, the facilities reflect Filipino design inspirations and world-class standards. Its Athletes’ Village, a residential area providing housing for athletes training in the area, has already attracted teams of other countries looking for a venue to prepare for the 2020 Olympics in Japan.
Overall, Dizon has delivered well. While challenges and criticisms remain, there are more reasons to celebrate BCDA’s accomplishments rather than rebuke them. Dizon is one superhero who continues to fight for a better Philippines in terms of infrastructure.
Let us hope that the BCDA will continue to flourish and bring more investments to our rising nation.
A petite lady who is often all smiles, Bernadette Romulo-Puyat may look like she wouldn’t hurt a fly. Yet the Secretary of the Department of Tourism (DOT) is definitely a force to reckon with, as she is armed with a fierce determination to further improve Philippine tourism.
Romulo-Puyat’s first brush with politics was in 2004, when she attempted to become the first district representative of Quezon City. While she lost the elections, her experiences during the campaign period inspired her to put up some branches of “Botika ng Bayan” (People’s Pharmacy) where people can avail themselves of affordable medicine.
Later on, she served as Deputy Cabinet Secretary and Economic Consultant during the term of former President Macapagal-Arroyo. She also became an Undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture, a position she held even with the coming of a new administration under President Aquino
Following the resignation of DOT’s head due to funding issues in the department’s projects, Romulo-Puyat was appointed to become the new tourism secretary by President Duterte. She assumed her new position with her concern for agriculture still at play, announcing that farm tourism would be one of her primary focus. She also expressed her dismay at the alleged widespread corruption in the department during her first month in office, tearing up during a press conference. Her frustration stems from the appalling fund misuse spearheaded by past officials, something that poor farmers in the country could have benefited from instead.
While she decided to forego the Philippines’ bid to host the Miss Universe pageant in 2018, she has turned her attention instead to local tourism projects. One of her most recent ventures is protecting the environment by requiring sustainable tourism.
Citing Boracay Island as an example, Romulo-Puyat has stated that all projects under her agency are required to obtain clearance from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Even at the risk of losing some investors, the DOT is adamant that our natural resources won’t be compromised for the sake of tourism.
Romulo-Puyat’s approach has its share of bashers and complainers, but at the end of the day, no one can deny the results. Boracay was closed for a few months for rehabilitation, but once it opened a new, better beachside greeted tourists. Stricter rules were enforced in tourist spots, with an aim to conserve them amid the surge of visitors. With Romulo-Puyat’s leadership, we can all look towards a more sustainable, tourist-friendly Philippines.
As the son of business tycoon Manny Villar and incumbent Sen. Cynthia Villar, Mark Villar is no stranger to construction. Trained in the family business of real estate, the young businessman has the background and capacity to handle the entrepreneurial side of infrastructure development.
Yet when he was appointed Secretary of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in 2016, many thought he was not up to the job. He was diligent and smart, but lacked political experience and engineering know-how. Little did people know how much the young entrepreneur would prove them wrong.
Since 2016, Villar has been leading the DPWH to its busiest years yet. A total of 175.92 kilometers of new roads were built to link industrial and commercial zones. More than a thousand kilometers of roads were built to connect farms to market roads. More projects are slated in the coming years, especially with the DPWH’s ongoing program called the “High Standard Highway Network Program.”
The project, led by Villar, aims to build super highways connecting the Philippines’ largest city centers— Manila, Cebu, and Davao, to other cities. So far, 25 superhighways are being built in Luzon, with most of them aiming for a turnover deadline of 2022.
These roads are meant to reduce traffic in the metro and provide more route options to drivers. In particular, the Skyway Stage 3 connecting Buendia to North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) is predicted to reduce traffic in Edsa anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 vehicles per day.
In addition, Villar has led renovation works for various bridges in the Metro. These include the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge, the Ortigas-BGC Bridge, and the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge. In the Visayas and Mindanao, 16 bridges are being constructed to ease connection between adjacent islands.
Overall, Villar has silenced all detractors with a list of accomplishments that speaks for itself. Despite his lack of political know-how, he is still able to deliver results with his business acumen and real estate background.
He is a superhero fighting for better roads and linkages in the Philippines, and we can look forward to less traffic and better connections in the future.
Redefining politicians
With this new generation of leaders, there is indeed much to hope for in the future. While only time can tell how the numerous projects of the Duterte administration will turn out, the numbers have so far been looking good and promising.
So the next time you encounter a road being built or an island being rehabilitated, remember that it only takes a few years of sacrifice to create a lifetime of convenience. Let us support our country’s superheroes in their quest to build our nation, and thus become advocates of a better tomorrow.
Sources:
www.bworldonline.com
bcda.gov.ph
cnnphilippines.com
FB Page of the BCDA Group
FB Page of Mark Villar