Duterte’s economic team grilled at WEF: DUTERTE WAS THE WEF

 

Duterte’s economic team grilled at WEF

byElijah Felice Rosales

May 11, 2017

President Duterte’s economic team on Thursday has laid out at the World Economic Forum (WEF) the administration’s plan for the Philippines, highlighting the ambitious infrastructure projects it intends to roll out in the next six years.

Speaking at a group of local and foreign reporters, the President’s economic team began their presentation with confidence, reiterating what they already unveiled during the Dutertenomics Forum mid-April.

Duterte’s most trusted aides, however, had to explain at length how the administration intends to carry out its infrastructure program. The President’s economic team was first asked about updates on the infrastructure projects being implemented by the new administration. This was raised by Adrian Monck, head of public and social management of the WEF.

Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade said the administration is really focused on developing existent airports than establishing new ones, citing feasibility studies point to the former than the latter.

Tugade said the administration is dead set on enhancing the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Clark International Airport. “We really want to develop the terminals at Clark International Airport and develop two state-of-the-art runways there.”

He said this will be complimented by a railway project, which would lessen travel time from Clark to Manila by more than two hours.

Tugade revealed there are two proposals to open new airports, which have reached their office recently: first was to establish one in Bulacan, where the proponent pitched to build an airport with four runways; and second was to establish one in former US military base Sangley, where proponents aim to build not just an airport but a city, as well.

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Participants had also wanted to know whether or not the “massive” infrastructure effort is environment-friendly.

Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar said the administration has allotted P150 billion for disaster-mitigation programs, which he claimed to be enough to support the Philippines should it be hit by another calamity.

The administration was given the opportunity to present its so-called Dutertenomics at the WEF after organizers agreed to give the Philippines the chance to persuade international businessmen to invest in Manila’s infrastructure projects.