For the benefit of everyone
Numbers. This seems to be the point of contention of the administration and critics or opposition of the government. Opposition member Franklin Drilon said that of the 75 projects under the ambitious "Build, build, build" (BBB) program of the Duterte administration, only nine have been started. Drilon cites underspending or the non-use of funds already earmarked for planned projects with Duterte's term down to two and a half years. He then calls it a "dismal failure."
Of course, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo reacted to Drilon's statement, dismissing it and chided Drilon that not a single infrastructure project was completed under the Aquino administration. But Drilon and Sen. Pangilinan said one only needs to look at government records to see what projects were finished under the Aquino administration. BCDA president and CEO Vivencio Dizon also defended the government's infrastructure programs, but at the same time said that they could do better. The list of projects under BBB has been revised to 100 projects and is available online. Ambitious and non-feasible projects from the original list of 75 were removed.
It's easy to fact-check Panelo's statement. It seems like a deliberate move to further polarize administration supporters and get them trolling on social media. Large-scale infrastructure projects take time to complete. Dizon said the same thing. Large projects that were initiated during the Arroyo and Aquino administrations may be completed or nearing completion under this administration. Can they claim it as one of their accomplishments? I'm sure there are many infrastructure projects started under Duterte that may not be completed in the remaining two-and-a-half years of his term. Would the next administration claim it as their own when finished?
Let's just be thankful for the projects that have been completed no matter under whose administration they were started. I remember Finance secretary Dominguez saying the Arroyo and Aquino administrations paved the way for the country's current "golden age of economic growth" which the Duterte administration would sustain. The Arroyo administration avoided the global financial crisis in 2008 while the Aquino administration had accumulated so much savings - actually criticized for underspending too - that when the Duterte administration took over they had a very good balance sheet. This allowed them to initiate large-scale infrastructure projects. Continuity is the key if the projects are sound and not disadvantageous to the government and the people. The next administration will most likely laud Duterte's time for starting projects under "Build, build, build" as they complete them.
These are all for the benefit of everyone. These are not made just for the use and benefit of supporters of whatever administration. It would surprise you that some people actually think that way.
- Latest
