BUDGET Secretary Benjamin Diokno plans to implement infrastructure projects fast to spur growth as a result of the delays in the Aquino administration.
“We are considering 24/7 construction for all Metro Manila projects and even in Cebu and Davao,” Diokno told dzMM radio.
“So don’t be surprised if you will encounter construction going on in the middle of the night.”
The government plans to bid out about 17 infrastructure projects worth around P580 billion before the end of 2017. It also plans to reduce the time for bidding them out so those could be awarded within 29 months.
In a briefing Tuesday, National Economic and Development Authority Director-General Ernesto Pernia said the projects were in various stages of bidding.
”[We expect these] to be rolled out by 2017 unless there are problems, but I think all of them can go,” he said.
Diokno said speeding up the infrastructure project would also result in many employment opportunities as a result of three daily shifts.
“Given the extent and the size of the projects that we are planning to do, things will get worse before they get better,” Diokno said.
“So let me not assure you that things will get better right away, but we are going to fix all the major roads.”
Diokno said there would be no problem if congressmen would want to identify the projects needed in their jurisdictions.
“There’s no problem with that. I think the elected officials have much knowledge about what their constituents need,” Diokno said.
A source told The Standard Monday that more than P80 million in discretionary funds would be allocated to each congressman under next year’s budget.
Incoming House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez vowed Tuesday to make the 2017 budget “pork-free.”