Incoming President Rodrigo Duterte bared yesterday the first big ticket infrastructure projects he has lined up – the creation of railway systems that will link Manila to three points in Luzon, and for the whole of Mindanao.

In a press conference held at the Elena Hotel Saturday night, Duterte said that he would push for the development of the railway systems that will be operated by the government, but built in partnership “with another country.”

He said the new railway systems would link Manila to Nueva Ecija in the north, and to Sorsogon and Batangas in southern Luzon.

He also said a railway project will be undertaken for “the whole of Mindanao.” “May mga gustong tumulong (There are those who want to help). We will ask if there is a payback,” he said.

But this early, Duterte has already ruled out undertaking the projects through public-private partnerships (PPP), underscoring that the mode would be “too contentious.”

“It has to involve another country because we do not have money for it,” he said. Duterte said he plans to declare a crisis “on the part of our commuters,” that would form the backbone of his bid to ask government to finance the big ticket infrastructure projects.

CHINA BUILDERS

Duterte averred that it was possible that his government would tap the help of China in realizing the four major railway projects, but also emphasized that any joint venture should not compromise the country’s position about its claims over disputed territories in the Scarborough Shoal.

“Just because you’re building me the railway does not mean to say that I am abandoning the Scarborough Shoal,” he maintained.

Duterte reiterated his position that the territories being claimed by China in the West Philippine Sea belonged to the Philippines.

“It’s ours; you have no right to be there. That will be the predicate of any discussion,” he said. The incoming president, however, pointed out that there is a looming financial crisis in the Asian region that the Philippines has to contend with if it wants to strike a viable deal on the railway systems.

“China is moving against the property market. And Japan wants to unload kasi mahal ang yen niya (because the value of the yen has become steep). That’s the consequence of too much economic activity,” he said.

LRT, MRT STAY PRIVATE

Duterte also said he was satisfied at how private concessions have been running the Light Railway Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) systems in Metro Manila.

“I am in favor of proprietary activity or interest in government by private corporations. Walang problema (There’s no problem with me). (Private operation) is more efficient and they’ve been keeping up with the quality (of service at the LRT and MRT),” he said.

PUMPING STATIONS

With the expected floods that would be spurred by the coming rainy season, Duterte said he was inclined to return control and management of flood pumping stations back to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“The proposal of (DWPH Secretary Rogelio) Singson is that the pumping stations, which were originally controlled by the DPWH, went to the local governments because they were complaining,” he said.

But apparently, the local government units failed in maintaining the pumping stations, which have often bogged down and ended up being clogged during the rainy season.

That was why Duterte said he was planning to return control of these pumping stations back to the DPWH “to keep them in running condition.”

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Rocky Nazareno

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