PHL pushes for interrelated, interconnected infra projects

The Duterte administration is pushing for interrelated and interconnected infrastructure projects under its Build Build Build initiative, Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President and Chief Executive Officer Vivencio Dizon said. (PNA photo)

MANILA—The Duterte administration is pushing for interrelated and interconnected infrastructure projects under its Build Build Build initiative, Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President and Chief Executive Officer Vivencio Dizon said.

In a press briefing on the sidelines of the 30th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings at the Conrad Manila Thursday, Dizon said interconnecting the infrastructure projects like highways, expressways, railways, sea ports, airports, and bus rapid transit (BRT), among others would effectively bring convenience to commuters and impact the cost of doing business in the country.

“The Duterte administration has made it a point that all projects are interrelated and interconnected as they should be,” the BCDA chief said.

“You’ve seen it in the past, sometimes there are bridges, but they lead to nowhere. Sometimes there are ports, airports, without roads leading to them. That will not happen under Build Build Build Program of the Duterte administration because of one word — and that is unity,” he added.

He said that BCDA’s priority projects, including the Clark International Airport, Bonifacio Global City-Ninoy Aquino International Airport BRT, and Subic-Clark Cargo Railway Project, would be aligned with projects of the Department of Works and Public Highways (DPWH) as well as the Department of Transportation (DoTr).

Dizon said projects of DPWH, like the northern and eastern parts of its Luzon Spine Expressway Network and DoTr’s North Railway that will link Manila to Clark, were support infrastructures to its Clark Green City project or now called as New Clark City.

The New Clark City envisions to be the country’s first green, resilient, and sustainable city.

“The entire government is working together to make sure that these projects all work together in order to maximize benefits our people,” he said.