The government is banking on its flagship infrastructure projects, worth over P1 trillion, to help jumpstart the country’s economy after being disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Malacañang issued the statement on Thursday to defend the said allocation in its proposed 2022 National Expenditure Program (NEP) against criticisms from some lawmakers, who insist it should be diverted instead to the government’s Covid-19 response.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque noted that while the government is focused on improving its healthcare in response to the pandemic next year, it should not neglect the economy, which is still reeling from the pandemic.
He noted the continuation of the BBB will serve as a much needed economic “stimulus.”
“Let us not think negatively of the large budget for the Build Build Build [program] because it will provide livelihood to many people,” Roque said in an online press briefing on Thursday.
Roque earlier announced of the P1 trillion budget will be allocated to the projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPHW), which includes network development program (P128.1 billion); flood management program (P113.5 billion); asset preservation program (P59.6 billion); and bridge program (P34.4 billion).
He said the remaining portion of the infrastructure funds will be the the following projects of the Department of Transportation (DOTr): rail transport (P110.9 billion); land public transportation program (P13.9 billion); aviation infrastructure program (P1.7 billion); and maritime infrastructure program (P720 million).