Sorsogon Governor Chiz Escudero said the massive infrastructure program of the government should be expanded, expedited and brought outside big urban centers to help generate employment, create livelihood opportunities and stir economic activities in the countryside.
While the economy remains sluggish due to the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the incoming administration should prepare a blue print on how to distribute equitably the construction of infrastructure projects in rural areas.
“Sana ang maging bagong konsepto ng ‘Build, Build, Build’ program ay hindi lamang nakatuon sa mga big-ticket projects at nasa malalaking probinsya o mga siyudad. Huwag namang sanang iwanan ang mga malalayo at maliit na lugar sa mga infrastructure projects,” said Escudero, a veteran lawmaker.
“Tama lang na ikalat nang patas at sapat ang mga proyektong pang-imprastruktura sa mas maraming lugar ng Pilipinas para makapaglikha ng trabaho nang hindi naman makulelat ang mga nasa kanayunan,” added Escudero, who is seeking a new six-year term in the Senate.
According to Escudero, projects like roads, schools, public hospitals or health centers, farm irrigation, agriculture-related infrastructure and tourism support projects, among others, should be carried out in the countryside in order to help local government units, usually the top employers in many localities, in providing jobs and livelihood opportunities in their communities.
The latest quarterly labor force survey of the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that unemployment had eased last October to 7.4 percent (3.5 million) from 8.9 percent (4.25 million) last month—the highest joblessness rate so far this year. However, underemployment rose 2 percent to 16.1 percent (7.04 million) from 14.2 percent (6.18 million) during the safe period.
Many administrations in the past had embarked on massive development projects, some making it their centerpiece program, to address not just infrastructure backlog but to create jobs and attract investors.
Under the Duterte administration, which dubbed it as “Build, Build, Build,” some 6.1 million jobs have been created from 2016 to 2020, according to data from the Department of Public Works and Highways. The agency is looking to create 1 million more jobs by the end of the year.
The government has identified 112 projects for its massive infrastructure project to the tune of P8 trillion to P9 trillion. The National Economic and Development Authority recently said that at least 18 big-ticket “Build, Build, Build” projects worth Php235.9 billion would have been completed by the time President Rodrigo Duterte’s term is finished in June 2022.
“Sa pamamagitan ng ‘Build, Build, Build’ o kung anuman ang gustong itawag dito ng susunod na administrasyon, may pagkakataong lumikha ng mga trabaho sa malaki o maliit mang probinsiya. Ang importane ay may ginagawa at gumagasta ang pamahalaan para tulungan ang mga Pilipinong nasa malayong lugar maagkaroon ng empleyo mula sa malaki o maliit man na proyekto,” Escudero explained.