BRIDGES bring people together. For, without bridges, how can cars reach destinations in a breeze? Without bridges, how can we facilitate dates, realize deals and interconnect people from all walks of life?
That is why when I read in the papers about the planned construction of 32 roads and bridges all over the country, I could only applaud—heartily, mind you.
Do you know that eight of the bridges up for construction would already amount to a whopping total of P270 billion or so? That’s huge.
Indeed, the present administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program worth a dizzying total of $180 billion is the best thing that ever happened to the country since People Power kicked Marcos out of Malacañang in 1986.
With President Duterte’s massive infrastructure thrusts aimed almost directly at making movement in every sphere of life faster than usual, business growth will be as inevitable as rose blooming in the April rain.
The construction boom will spur entrepreneurial burst of flourish, auspiciously resulting in increased employment not only in bull’s-eye beneficiaries like the manufacturing sector and services but nationwide, as well.
And, this time, the Asian Development Bank might yet realize its prediction of seeing the Philippines as entering “a golden age of economic growth” this year.
If only to highlight the big-ticket project on bridges in the next three years or so, may I list here the spans that will link Luzon to the Visayas and Mindanao, citing Ben O. de Vera’s recent Inquirer item.
There is the 18.2-kilometer bridge connecting Luzon and Samar Island crossing the San Bernardino Strait from Matnog, Sorsorgon, to Allen, Samar; a 20-km bridge connecting Leyte and Mindanao Islands either through a long span overhead or an underwater tunnel; a 12.3-km bridge connecting Negros and Guimaras Island; and, a 5.7-km bridge connecting Panay and Guimaras.
Also up for approval by the National Economic and Development Authority’s Investment Coordination Committee (Neda-ICC) are the 24.5-km Cebu-Bohol Bridge, the 5.5-km Cebu-Negros Bridge; 18-km Leyte-Laping Island Bridge and the 1-km Bohol-Laping Island span.
Somewhat neglected for quite a period of time, the Visayas is finally getting its share in infrastructure development.
Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez said, “These bridges will ensure that none of the major islands of the Visayas will be left behind in the country’s race to progress.”
Of course, Dominguez knows pretty well that for the projects to succeed, major agencies of the government must get involved.
“…The Department of Public Works and Highways [under Mark Villar] is working round-the-clock to construct the road networks that will make these bridges truly meaningful as growth corridors for the island economies in central Philippines,” Dominguez said.
Now aside from the road networks and bridges being readied for construction, four other infra projects have been approved by the Neda Board that is chaired no less by Mr. Duterte.
“Since last year, we have been working on the upgrade of the operations and maintenance of the new Bohol Airport,” Dominguez said. “This year we expect to begin work on the new Cebu International Container Port. Next year we will begin work on the further improvement of the Iloilo International Airport and the Bacolod-Silay International Airport.”
There are actually a total of 75 flagship projects to also include nine railways, three bus-rapid transits, four seaports, four energy facilities, 10 water resource projects and, yes, a subway in Metro Manila.
Some 45 infra projects alone are in Luzon, 17 in Mindanao and 10 in the Visayas.
With all the construction soon to go full throttle, it will not be long when traffic jams in Metro Manila—include Metro Cebu and Metro Davao—will become history.
In case you haven’t noticed, the private sector is doing its own share of nation-building as epitomized mainly by San Miguel Corp.’s robust road and railway projects (the MRT 7 construction is 24/7 at Commonwealth Avenue) in the metropolis. Upon the relentless marshalling of SMC chieftain Ramon S. Ang, the connector road linking the Slex and Nlex will soon be completed, enormously easing snarls and untangling chokepoints at Edsa.
With traffic licked, car production will never be at its frenetic best. Soon.
PEE STOP With the Vios Cup roaring off to its fifth edition today and tomorrow, expect race enthusiasts to arrive in droves once more at the Clark Speedway in Angeles, Pampanga. Will I see my buddies Jing, Shawin, Carlo and Jade there again? You bet.
That is why when I read in the papers about the planned construction of 32 roads and bridges all over the country, I could only applaud—heartily, mind you.
Do you know that eight of the bridges up for construction would already amount to a whopping total of P270 billion or so? That’s huge.
Indeed, the present administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program worth a dizzying total of $180 billion is the best thing that ever happened to the country since People Power kicked Marcos out of Malacañang in 1986.
With President Duterte’s massive infrastructure thrusts aimed almost directly at making movement in every sphere of life faster than usual, business growth will be as inevitable as rose blooming in the April rain.
The construction boom will spur entrepreneurial burst of flourish, auspiciously resulting in increased employment not only in bull’s-eye beneficiaries like the manufacturing sector and services but nationwide, as well.
And, this time, the Asian Development Bank might yet realize its prediction of seeing the Philippines as entering “a golden age of economic growth” this year.
If only to highlight the big-ticket project on bridges in the next three years or so, may I list here the spans that will link Luzon to the Visayas and Mindanao, citing Ben O. de Vera’s recent Inquirer item.
There is the 18.2-kilometer bridge connecting Luzon and Samar Island crossing the San Bernardino Strait from Matnog, Sorsorgon, to Allen, Samar; a 20-km bridge connecting Leyte and Mindanao Islands either through a long span overhead or an underwater tunnel; a 12.3-km bridge connecting Negros and Guimaras Island; and, a 5.7-km bridge connecting Panay and Guimaras.
Also up for approval by the National Economic and Development Authority’s Investment Coordination Committee (Neda-ICC) are the 24.5-km Cebu-Bohol Bridge, the 5.5-km Cebu-Negros Bridge; 18-km Leyte-Laping Island Bridge and the 1-km Bohol-Laping Island span.
Somewhat neglected for quite a period of time, the Visayas is finally getting its share in infrastructure development.
Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez said, “These bridges will ensure that none of the major islands of the Visayas will be left behind in the country’s race to progress.”
Of course, Dominguez knows pretty well that for the projects to succeed, major agencies of the government must get involved.
“…The Department of Public Works and Highways [under Mark Villar] is working round-the-clock to construct the road networks that will make these bridges truly meaningful as growth corridors for the island economies in central Philippines,” Dominguez said.
Now aside from the road networks and bridges being readied for construction, four other infra projects have been approved by the Neda Board that is chaired no less by Mr. Duterte.
“Since last year, we have been working on the upgrade of the operations and maintenance of the new Bohol Airport,” Dominguez said. “This year we expect to begin work on the new Cebu International Container Port. Next year we will begin work on the further improvement of the Iloilo International Airport and the Bacolod-Silay International Airport.”
There are actually a total of 75 flagship projects to also include nine railways, three bus-rapid transits, four seaports, four energy facilities, 10 water resource projects and, yes, a subway in Metro Manila.
Some 45 infra projects alone are in Luzon, 17 in Mindanao and 10 in the Visayas.
With all the construction soon to go full throttle, it will not be long when traffic jams in Metro Manila—include Metro Cebu and Metro Davao—will become history.
In case you haven’t noticed, the private sector is doing its own share of nation-building as epitomized mainly by San Miguel Corp.’s robust road and railway projects (the MRT 7 construction is 24/7 at Commonwealth Avenue) in the metropolis. Upon the relentless marshalling of SMC chieftain Ramon S. Ang, the connector road linking the Slex and Nlex will soon be completed, enormously easing snarls and untangling chokepoints at Edsa.
With traffic licked, car production will never be at its frenetic best. Soon.
PEE STOP With the Vios Cup roaring off to its fifth edition today and tomorrow, expect race enthusiasts to arrive in droves once more at the Clark Speedway in Angeles, Pampanga. Will I see my buddies Jing, Shawin, Carlo and Jade there again? You bet.
