Build Build Build 

[INFRA SITS] 
 
2019 WAS THE HALFWAY MARK FOR THE DUTERTE ADMINISTRATION. 
 
BUT FOR ITS MUCH TOUTED BUILD BUILD BUILD PROGRAM -- IT WAS NOWHERE NEAR HALFWAY 
DONE. 
 
[GFX] 
IN 2016, THE GOVERNMENT PROMISED TO SPEND AS MUCH AS 165 BILLION DOLLARS -- MORE 
THAN 8 TRILLION PESOS -- THROUGH ABOUT FOUR THOUSAND PROJECTS. 
 
75 OF THOSE WERE MARKED AS THE FLAGSHIP INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS 
 
[INFRA HINDI TAPOS] 
BUT AS OF END OF NOVEMBER THIS YEAR, ONLY TWO OF THOSE PROJECTS HAVE BEEN 
COMPLETED -- AND THOSE TWO WEREN’T EVEN MAJOR ONES: JUST DRAINAGE REPAIRS ALONG 
PASIG RIVER, AND DREDGING OF THE PULANGI RIVER. 
 
SO WHAT HAPPENED THERE? WELL, BUREAUCRACY WAS THE MAIN CULPRIT.  
 
[SOT] 
NOV13TBS23 tc: 01013914 
SOT: SEC. VINCE DIZON 
PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER FOR FLAGSHIP PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS 
government to a great extent is so (?) and so bureaucratic that it really takes a long time for these 
projects to get off the ground so that is a major challenge. 
 
ADMIN OPPONENTS WERE QUICK TO SLAM THE MOVE, CALLING THE PROGRESS OUTRIGHT 
‘DISMAL.’ 
 
[SOT NGA BA TO OR STATEMENT?] 
SEN FRANKLIN DRILON 
“It is sad to say that the BUILD BUILD BUILD program of the administration is a dismal failure. 
Out of the 75 flagship projects that were proposed at the start of the administration, exactly nine started 
construction. 
 
That is only 2% of the total. We only have two years and a half left in this administration, I don't think any 
substantial progress insofar as that program is concerned will be achieveD. I repeat, the execution is 
simply dismal.” 
 
THE PALACE QUICKLY DEFENDED THE EXECUTION, SAYING PROJECTS THAT WERE LAND BASED 
RAN INTO RIGHT OF WAY ISSUES, AND THAT THEY WERE BEING CAREFUL NOT TO MAKE 
MISTAKES THAT WE’LL REGRET FOR GENERATIONS. 
 
FEED_NOV12_MACE PANELO 
13:52:46-13:53:01 
"Mabagal kasi siguro maingat. For instance, kung meron kang isang project na hindi mo maumpisahan 
kasi meron kang right-of-way issues bakit ka re-release ng funds? The fact remains that maraming 
projects." 
<JC> 
SOT: SALCEDA 
13;53;40 
instead of declaring it, pronouncing it a failure... i think progress is due to bound to give pres. Everything 
he needs bec. This the duty of any admin is to .. positive consequences in the lives of ordinry people 
13;54;00;09 
 
IT ALSO DIDN’T HELP THAT 2019 NATIONAL BUDGET GOT DELAYED. BUT THAT’S NOT THE ONLY 
FINANCING TROUBLE THE PROGRAM RAN INTO. 
 
REMEMBER HOW GOVERNMENT ARGUED THAT PPP’S ARE TOO SLOW, AND THAT IT WOULD BE 
FASTER TO CAPITALIZE ON AVAILABLE MONEY FROM OTHER COUNTRIES: THE ODA’S. 
 
WELL, AS IT TURNED OUT, THEY WEREN’T AS FAST EITHER. BUT MORE ON THAT LATER. 
 
SO 2 YEARS AFTER -- THE GOVERNMENT OVERHAULED THAT LIST.  
 
[GFX: LIST] 
AND NO, IT’S NOT NECESSARILY A SCALING DOWN OF THE LIST -- IN FACT THEY BUMPED THAT 
NUMBER FROM 75 TO 100 FLAGSHIP INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS! 
 
BUT ISN’T IT BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL LIST WAS FAILING? THE GOVERNMENT SAYS, WELL, NO. 
 
[ROLL SOT] 
get it here:NOV13TBS23 (1st sot) 
¤W0 26 ]] C2.5 G 0 [[ 
NOV13TBS23 
SOT: VINCE DIZON - PRESIDENT, BASES AND CONVERSION DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY 
is build, build, build a failure? Absolutely not and the numbers speak for themselves. Construction is 
up. Public spending on infrastracture is up and this has led to faster economic growth. Are we happy 
with the progress? We could do better and we admit that. 
 
THEY SAID THE LIST OF FLAGSHIP PROJECTS IS AN EVOLVING ONE, AND IN THIS REBOOT, THEY 
SIMPLY SCALED BACK ON THE IMPRACTICAL AND THE AMBITIOUS -- AND FOCUSED ON THE 
FEASIBLE. 
 
AND WHILE NEARLY HALF OF THAT NEW LIST WILL BE FUNDED BY OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT 
ASSISTANCE, OR O-D-AS, THE GOVERNMENT ALSO RETURNED TO A FINANCING STRATEGY THEY 
INITIALLY DISMISSED AS TOO SLOW: PPP. 
 
IN FACT, THE LIST INCLUDED SOME PROJECTS THAT WEREN’T EVEN THE GOVERNMENT’S OWN 
IDEAS. THE BULACAN AIRPORT FOR EXAMPLE, WAS AN UNSOLICITED PROPOSAL BY SAN 
MIGUEL. 
 
WITH SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE FOR THE GOVERNMENT, SUCH AS THE NO-GUARANTEE POLICY, 
AND LIMITING OF CONTINGENT LIABILITIES, GOVERNMENT WELCOMED THE CORPORATIONS 
INTO THE BUILD BUILD BUILD PARTY.  
 
THIS WAS OF COURSE, WELCOME DEVELOPMENT TO CORPORATIONS THAT ARE ALREADY IN 
THE BUSINESS, SUCH AS MEGAWIDE. ABOITIZ INFRACAP’S COSETTE CANILAO, WHO HERSELF 
HEADED THE PPP CENTER BEFORE, SAID THEY HOPE GETTING INTO THE FLAGSHIP LIST MEANS 
FASTER APPROVALS FOR THE PROJECTS. 
 
FITCH SOLUTIONS SAYS THIS WOULD ATTRACT FOREIGN CAPITAL INTO THE COUNTRY, MOVING 
FORWARD, BUT FLAGS RISKS LIKE BUREAUCRACY AND CORRUPTION. 
 
[GFX - PIE CHART 56/100] 
OF THE 100, THE GOVERNMENT SEES MORE THAN HALF, 56 TO BE EXACT GETTING FINISHED BY 
2022 -- THE YEAR THE PRESIDENT STEPS DOWN.  
 
ALSO BY 2022, THE REST OF THAT LIST WOULD’VE BEGUN CONSTRUCTION. 
 
[GFX - LIST] 
• unsolicited operate-add-transfer (OAT) proposal for the Davao International Airport; 
• unsolicited OAT proposal for Laguindingan Airport; 
• Bataan-Cavite interlink bridge; 
• Metro Rail Transit Line 4 project (MRT 4); 
• EDSA Greenways project; 
• Maritime Safety Enhancement program; 
• Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge (BCIB) project 
• fourth bridge of the Cebu-Mactan Bridge and Coastal Road Construction project; 
• Davao City Coastal Bypass Road, including the Bucana Bridge project; 
• Capas-Botolan Road Project; 
• Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges project; 
• change in scope, cost and supplemental loan of the the Davao City Bypass Construction Project; 
• as well as implementation extension and increase in cost of the Samar-Pacific Coastal Road 
Project-Loan Validity. 
 
IT WILL SURE BE A BUSY YEAH AHEAD FOR THE DPWH, AS WELL AS THOSE COMPANIES THAT 
CLINCHED PPPs. 
 
JUST A WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS -- NEDA-ICC GAVE THE GREENLIGHT ON 12 NEW PROJECTS.  
 
THAT LIST INVOLVES MAJOR BRIDGE PROJECTS, INCLUDING WHAT NEDA SAYS WOULD 
EVENTUALLY BECOME THE LONGEST IN THE COUNTRY. 
 
IT WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE MRT-4, WHICH CONNECTS ORTIGAS CENTER TO THE EAST, AND IS 
EXPECTED TO EASE TRAFFIC ALONG ORTIGAS AVENUE -- AND THE EDSA GREENWAYS PROJECT, 
WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY AIMED AT PEDESTRIAN ACCESS ALONG THE METRO MANILA’S BUSIEST 
HIGHWAY. 
 
BOTH THOSE PROJECTS WILL BE FUNDED BY THE ADB. 
 
IT WILL ALSO INCLUDE UNSOLICITED PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE THE LAGUINDINGAN AND DAVAO 
AIRPORTS. 
 
ALL IN ALL, THE LIST WILL HAVE A TOTAL COST OF MORE THAN 626 BILLION PESOS. 
 
[SITS] 
BCDA PRESIDENT VIC DIZON SAYS, WE SHOULD SEE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS 
START CONSTRUCTION, WITH QUOTE: “HEAVY EQUIPMENT ON THE GROUND” IN 6 TO 8 MONTHS. 
 
SO, WHILE THOSE TWELVE WILL START THIS YEAR, WHICH ONE’S SHOULD WE EXPECT TO SEE 
FINISHED? WELL, WE’RE ALSO EXPECTING 12. 
 
[GFX] 
Twelve projects on track to be completed by 2020 
Bonifacio Global City- Ortigas Center Link Road Project; 
Cagayan de Oro Coastal Road; 
Metro Manila Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Line 1 (Quezon Ave); 
Clark International Airport Expansion Project Phase 1; 
Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 East Extension; 
Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project; 
Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project; 
National Government Data Center; 
Luzon Bypass Infrastructure Project; 
Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3; 
Laguindingan Airport; and 
Agus 3 Hydroelectric Power Project. 
 
IT INCLUDES SOME IMPORTANT ROADS LIKE SKYWAY STAGE 3, THE BGC-ORTIGAS LINK ROAD 
PROJECT IN MANILA, AND THE SAMAR PACIFIC COASTAL ROAD -- 
 
AS FOR RAIL PROJECTS, WE SHOULD SEE THE METRO MANILA B-R-T LINE 1 ALONG QUEZON 
AVE, AND THE LRT LINE 2 EXTENSION TO THE EAST. 
 
WE CAN ALSO EXPECT SOME NON-TRANSPORT INFRA GETTING DONE, SUCH AS THE NATIONAL 
GOVERNMENT DATA CENTER, A HYPER-FAST INTERNET CABLE SYSTEM, AND A HYDROELECTRIC 
POWER PROJECT. 
 
clip# 000113 
SOT: CONG. JOEY SALCEDA: 
13;51;22;11 build build pinaka ambisyososa ng program ng pamahalaan..  
 
THE INFRASTRUCTURE GAP IS INDEED LARGE ACROSS EMERGING ASIA.  
 
THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK ESTIMATES THE REGION NEEDS $26 TRILLION WORTH OF 
INVESTMENT THROUGH 2030 TO ADDRESS BOTTLENECKS AND KEEP GROWTH GOING.  
EXECUTION MAY HAVE BEEN HARD, BUT WE’LL SEE IF THE GOVERNMENT’S PPP PIVOT WILL 
YIELD MORE SUCCESSES THAN DELAYS THIS NEW YEAR. 
[END]   
REFERENCES: 
 
SENATE TO PROBE FLAGSHIP PROJS, CHINA FUNDING 
ADB $200M 
 
Now Mr. Duterte is revamping the plan and giving businesses a bigger share of the projects, after earlier 
shying away from privately led projects due to financing risks and delays. That’s a boon for companies 
like Megawide Construction Corp., which is already planning bids for rail and other infrastructure 
projects. 
“It’s a good opportunity for us,” said Edgar Saavedra, chief executive officer of Megawide. “This is like a 
rebirth for the Philippines.” 
PROJECT PIPELINE 
Mr. Duterte’s new plan consists of 100 priority projects, nearly half of which will be funded from 
investments by companies like San Miguel Corp., which wants to build a P736-billion ($14.5-billion) 
airport north of Manila, and Udenna Corp., which proposed a monorail in Cebu. 
 
 
 
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia earlier announced that the total government’s cost 
for the infrastructure flagship program is estimated to reach P4.2 trillion, while the entire “Build, Build, 
Build” program, which consists of over 4,000 projects, is about P8.2 trillion. 
 
 
The revamp could result in a more streamlined approval process, given “sufficient attention to fast-track 
implementation,” according to Cosette Canilao, chief operating officer at Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc.’s 
infrastructure unit. Ms. Canilao was head of the country’s Public-Private Partnership Center, which 
reviewed company-led infrastructure projects under Mr. Duterte’s predecessor, Benigno Aquino. 
The infrastructure gap is large across emerging Asia, with the Asian Development Bank estimating the 
region needs $26 trillion worth of investment through 2030 to address bottlenecks and keep growth 
going. Political uncertainty has delayed infrastructure projects in Thailand, while in Indonesia, the 
government has offered tax benefits to get around funding constraints. 
PORT PLANS 
Philippine billionaire Enrique Razon, chairman of port operator International Container Terminal Services, 
Inc, said he’s looking at proposing more infrastructure projects to the government. Mr. Razon is a major 
shareholder in a venture that seeks to develop a new water source for the Philippine capital. 
The government aims to start construction on all 100 projects on the new list before Duterte steps down 
in 2022, with one-third of the projects expected to break ground next year, said Vince Dizon, a 
presidential adviser on the infrastructure program, who was appointed to the post in September. 
Private-sector participation alone doesn’t guarantee projects will get completed. Reforms are needed to 
speed up approvals, address corruption and prevent policy reversals, said James Su, an infrastructure 
analyst at Fitch Solutions Inc. in Singapore. 
The scope of Mr. Duterte’s “Build, Build, Build” program is so large that “it was always going to be a 
challenge to implement the initiative in full,” he said. 
Turning to companies also poses risk a of competing firms suing each other over contracts. And even 
when projects do get off the ground, the Philippines faces a shortage of construction workers. 
“These are issues all countries face when they raise infrastructure,” Thomas Helbling, the head of the 
International Monetary Fund’s mission to the Philippines, said at a recent conference in Manila. 
Speaking to foreign investors this month at the Clark Freeport special economic zone, Antonio Lambino, 
an assistant secretary in the Finance Ministry, said the country’s infrastructure drive goes beyond the list 
of high-profile projects. Public infrastructure spending made up a record 5% of the country’s gross 
domestic product last year, and should rise to 7% by 2022, he said. 
“We go around to take a look at these projects on the ground, and we do see that ‘Build, Build, Build’ is 
making a difference in people’s lives,” Mr. Lambino said. 
   
Twelve projects are on track to be completed by 2020, namely: 
Bonifacio Global City- Ortigas Center Link Road Project; 
Cagayan de Oro Coastal Road; 
 
 
 
Metro Manila Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Line 1 (Quezon Ave); 
Clark International Airport Expansion Project Phase 1; 
Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 East Extension; 
Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project; 
Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project; 
National Government Data Center; 
Luzon Bypass Infrastructure Project; 
Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3; 
Laguindingan Airport; and 
Agus 3 Hydroelectric Power Project. 
Sixteen projects are expected to be done by 2021. These are: 
Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project; 
Chico River Pump Irrigation Project; 
Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 7; 
North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway Connector Road; 
Boracay Circumferential Road; 
Surallah-T’Boli-San Jose Road, South Cotabato; 
MRT 3 Rehabilitation Project; 
Cebu BRT; 
Automated Fare Collection Clearing House; 
LRT 6 Cavite Line A; 
New Bohol (Panglao) International Airport; 
Unified Grand Central Station; 
Pasacao-Balatan Tourism Coastal Highway; 
Reconstruction and Development Plan for Greater Marawi (JICA grant); 
Taguig Integrated Terminal Exchange; 
China Grant Bridges (Binondo-Intramuros Bridge and Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge).