Marcos says admin’s infrastructure program on track

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his 2024 State of the Nation Address (Sona) speech on Monday said that several sectors benefit from the government’s infrastructure push — which will be the key for the country’s goal of achieving upper-middle income status. | Screenshot from RTVM/LIVE

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has assured Filipinos that his administration’s infrastructure program is on track, two years since he assumed office.

Marcos in his 2024 State of the Nation Address (Sona) speech on Monday said that several sectors benefit from the government’s infrastructure push — which will be the key for the country’s goal of achieving upper-middle income status.

READ: Live Updates: Sona 2024

“As we enter the midterm, our infrastructure development remains sustained, strategic, and on schedule. Aside from agriculture and disaster risk, our other vital sectors and pillars, such as education, health, energy, low-cost housing, transport, and information technology, all stand to benefit from our aggressive infrastructure development as befitting our upper middle-income economic target,” Marcos said.

“With the results that we have seen two years into this administration, we can claim that despite challenges, we are steadily progressing over our targets in the medium term,” he added.

Marcos highlighted that at least 12,000 kilometers of road had been built, while 1,200 bridges were constructed or repaired under his administration.

“As of May this year, 12,000 kilometers-worth of road and more than 1,200 bridges have been built and upgraded across the country. Of note, we have provided a budget to upgrade 367 bridges, and almost 1,600 kilometers of road along our country’s longest thoroughfare, the Maharlika Highway from Luzon all the way to Mindanao,” he said.

“Moreover, significant segments of major expressways which are part of the Luzon spine expressway network have now been open to the public, the CLLEX (Central Luzon Link Expressway), NLEX-SLEX (North Luzon Expressway – South Luzon Expressway) connector and the Plaridel Bypass will be fully completed by the end of this year,” he said.

READ: Marcos orders to streamline permit process of 185 infra flagship projects 

These roads, Marcos noted, will link Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, National Capital Region, and Southern Luzon even more.

“Dahil sa mga mahahalagang daan na ito, ang Norte, Gitnang Luzon, Maynila, at Katimugang Luzon ay lalo pa ngayon magiging mas konektado sa isa’t isa,” he said.

Free Wi-Fi program

Marcos also touted the administration’s efforts to boost interconnectivity and digitalization, with the free Wi-Fi program helping 10 million users.

“Our power and internet services are continuously being upgraded in both capacity and connectivity. Sa ating free Wi-Fi program, halos 10 milyong unique user devices ang nakikinabang sa libreng internet sa labing-tatlong libong lugar sa buong Pilipinas,” he said.

READ: PH economy grows by 6.1% on average during Marcos’ term 

Marcos has vowed to improve the past administration’s infrastructure push, by adopting a mantra of “Build Better More”. Under this program, the President ordered the streamlining of the permitting process for about 185 infrastructure flagship projects (IFPs) which was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

The infrastructure spending boost has been credited as part of the reason why the country’s economy grew by 6.1 percent under Marcos’ term.