24/7 work on new infra projects pushed

Economic managers want work on new infrastructure projects done 24 hours a day, seven days a week to play catch up given the delays in the approval of the 2019 national budget.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia told the Inquirer Tuesday that while continuing and ongoing projects had “no disruptions, new projects certainly need to get going fast on a 24/7 work regimen.”

“Luckily, the weather is likely to cooperate given the weak El Niño forecast,” added Pernia, who heads state planning agency National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

On Monday, President Duterte finally signed the P3.8-trillion budget for this year even as he vetoed P95.3 billion in projects that were not included in his administration’s priorities.

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III told reporters in a Viber message on Monday night that “we fully support the President in his desire to focus national expenditure on projects and activities that redound to the benefit of all Filipinos.”

These priority programs and projects to be funded by the 2019 budget will “stimulate the growth of the economy, providing job and income opportunity for the least advantaged,” said Dominguez.

Neda earlier projected economic growth at about 6.1-6.3 percent, within the downgraded 6-7 percent full-year target and around the same level as last year’s 6.2-percent expansion, if the government operated under a reenacted budget until April. —BEN O. DE VERA