Multibillion-peso infra plan in the works for next administration
April 7, 2016 | 3:10am
MANILA, Philippines - The Aquino administration will leave its successor a multibillion-peso infrastructure blueprint that will put the Philippines' capital spending at par with global standards.
The Three-Year Rolling Infrastructure Program (TRIP) 2017-2019 will unveil in July a pipeline of projects to be pursued by the government to achieve infrastructure spending at 5 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).
"These projects include basic infrastructure services and facilities linked to climate resiliency, competitiveness, agricultural sustainability, governance, security and bridging gaps in poor, hazard-prone and emerging growth areas," the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said on Thursday.
Last year, spending hit 4.5 percent of economic output, beating the 4 percent target.
"Infrastructure expenditures now account for five percent of GDP, a figure considered the benchmark...to sustain growth and attract investments that create jobs," DBM said in a statement.
Small funding for mass transit
The figure represented the budget for infrastructure this year worth P760 billion, but economists had some reservations.
"This administration has been slow in spending, precisely because the ability of line agencies to carry out feasibility studies was not enough," said Emilio Neri Jr., lead economist at Bank of the Philippine Islands.
"Everything starts with feasibility. If it doesn't happen, then the gap between plan and actual outlays will still be there," he said in a phone interview.
Focus should also be given to the type of infrastructure to be prioritized, Neri added.
Infrastructure spending hit P595.78 billion last year, the highest since 1991, but bulk of it -- P323.3 billion -- was spent in roads and bridges, leaving a small amount to mass transit, which is said to be the solution to heavy traffic in the Metro.
"As an archipelago, I would like to see more ports. It's very critical, especially for movement of people, goods and services. Mass transport is, of course, a given," Neri said.
For their part, the DBM and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) held consultations on how to fast track spending by clarifying roles of each agency, streamlining government calendar, and better monitoring and evaluation of projects.
"Although much improved, our current budget and planning process still needs to be simplified and straightened out," NEDA deputy director-general Rosemarie Edillon said.
Agencies were already invited to submit their project proposals, the NEDA said.
The program, NEDA told The STAR, will serve as a continuation of the broader Public Investment Program under the Philippine Development Plan 2010-2016.
It will also take its cue from the Comprehensive and Integrated Infrastructure Program 2013-2016, which listed infrastructure initiatives and their funding sources.
TRIP was first reinstituted in 2014.
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