THE DEPARTMENT of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced the appointment of a new chief implementer for the Build, Build, Build program, saying that there is sufficient time to stimulate the economy with accelerated infrastructure programs, even as the administration’s time in office winds down.
Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain was tasked by President Rodrigo R. Duterte to oversee the government’s flagship building program, the DPWH said Tuesday.
“Although the term of current administration is winding down, there will be no let up in the government’s commitment to pump-prime the economy with investment in more projects to stimulate both short-term growth through employment generation and long-term inclusive development by ensuring that infrastructure is not merely concentrated in urban areas but extends even to the countryside,” the department said in a statement.
Mr. Sadain’s marching orders are “the expeditious execution and timely completion of well-planned, sustainable and integrated infrastructure identified as key to accelerating economic growth.”
Mr. Sadain will be responsible for bringing Philippine infrastructure up to par “with the world’s best.”
Mr. Sadain, a civil engineer, was quoted as saying that he will seek “reduce the lag time from conceptualization to implementation and shorten startup periods by compressing the timeline in the review and approval process so as to accelerate priority projects from pre-planning stage of feasibility studies to detailed engineering design, procurement, civil works construction, and completion.” — Arjay L. Balinbin
