THERE is a Magsaysay bridge that used to connect the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) with Olongapo City. It’s been four years now since construction to replace the deteriorating bridge started, and for some reason, work on the project has stalled. There is no news on when it will resume, or when the bridge will be finished.
In Tacloban City, any passenger alighting at the airport cannot fail to see the unfinished Daniel Z. Romualdez International Airport, a project that was conceptualized during the term of President Joseph Estrada in 2000, started construction when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo assumed office, and has been under construction for over 20 years now.
This international airport could have been a game changer for the Eastern Visayas region, the islands of Leyte, Samar and Biliran, but government neglect and inefficiency led to its sorry status now — with slippage after slippage in the construction dogging the project.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the Department of Transportation both have a lot of explaining to do here. Ironically, the airport is named after Speaker Martin Romualdez’ grandfather and is located in his hometown. What a disgrace.
‘… funds appropriated for the priority projects are part of the taxpayers’ money and their main concern is for the immediate completion of government projects.’
The Project Monitoring Committee of the Regional Development Council was forced to issue a notice of termination to the contractor, and if they again fail to make good their promises, another contractor will have to take over the multi-million peso project.
The presence of these slow-running projects got the goat of five members of the House of Representatives, prodding them to file a bill mandating the adoption of round-the-clock operations in the priority government infrastructure projects, particularly in roads and bridges.
In House Bill No. 9666 or the Accelerated Infrastructure Development Act of 2023, deputy majority leader and ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo acknowledged the pressing need to meet the people’s increasing demands to improve the efficiency and effective execution of the projects.
Tulfo and co-authors ACT-CIS party-list Reps. Edvic Yap and Jocelyn Tulfo, Benguet Rep. Eric Yap and Quezon City Rep. Ralph Tulfo seek to streamline the implementation of the government infrastructure projects through the 24/7 operations.
“This strategic move aims to revolutionize the efficiency and pace of project completion, addressing the longstanding challenges associated with prolonged timelines in traditional project management,” the proposed measure read.
The bill applies to all government infrastructure projects funded by the national government, local government units, and government-owned and controlled corporations, particularly those involving the construction, repair and maintenance of roads and bridges.
Tulfo said it is the sentiment of many Filipinos to see government projects constructed fast, for those to be used at the earliest possible time. He said the funds appropriated for the priority projects are part of the taxpayers’ money and their main concern is for the immediate completion of government projects.
“Enough of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. operation, then construction stopped every Saturday and Sunday because workers have to take two days off,” Tulfo said, adding that workers in other countries work 24/7.
The bill provides that the implementing agency shall devise a suitable shift schedule, taking into consideration the nature and scope of the project, to maximize workforce and equipment utilization.
The five legislators pushing this bill have good intentions, and the measure might even make it as a law, but we doubt if it would be implemented at all, considering the myriad problems of constructing government projects.
