AS the economy reopens after an extended lockdown, more infrastructure projects under the “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) program have resumed, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).
At a news briefing on Monday, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said BBB projects, such as the implementation of the Bonifacio Global City-Ortigas Bridge and Agusan Bridge in Cagayan have also resumed.
Earlier, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the list of projects that have resumed included the Northern Luzon Expressway (Nlex)-Southern Luzon Expressway (Slex) Connector Road, Nlex Harbor Link, and Cavite-Laguna expressway.
“Prior to the complete resumption of operations, note that concessionaires, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers are expected to comply with the necessary requirements such as testing, welfare facilities and amenities, ensuring strict compliance to health and safety protocols,” Dominguez said.
The finance chief added that other projects that have resumed also include a number of flagship projects. He said, however, that the cost of the projects that have resumed is still being determined to date.
Dominguez said the BBB program generated over 5 million jobs from 2016 to 2019, according to data from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Dominguez also said Public Works Secretary Mark Villar estimated that around 1.5 million jobs will be generated by infrastructure projects to be funded by the budget this year.
With the resumption of these projects, Dominguez said, a total of 6.5 million jobs will be generated by the end of the year.
Malacañang earlier reported the reactivated construction of flagship infrastructure projects like the Skyway Stage 3; R1 Bridge Project; Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx) extension; and the Subic Freeport Expressway.
Most of construction works nationwide, including those under the BBB program, were suspended by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) in March as part of the government efforts to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus disease.
Image credits: Nonie Reyes