Bautista - Synthesis - Theory and Practice in Public Admin

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Synthesis Paper

President Duterte’s Administration Project

“Golden Age of Infrastructure”

Submitted to:
Dr. Teresita C. Arnaldo
Faculty of the Graduate School
Philippine Christian University
Dasmariňas City Campus

In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements in


Theory and Practice in Public Administration
For the Master’s Degree in
Public Administration

Submitted by:
Danise Janica C. Bautista

27 October 2017
Dutertenomics: Golden Age of Infrastructure

President Rodrigo Duterte positions infrastructure among the top priorities of his

Administration with public spending on infrastructures project targeted to reach 8-9 trillion

pesos from 2017-2022. This project ushers in the “Golden Age of Infrastructure” which is the

boldest infrastructure development program in the contemporary Philippine history.

As envisioned in the 10-point Socioeconomic Agenda, President Duterte’s

administration projected the reduction of poverty from 21.6% in 2015 to 13%-15% by 2022.

One of the reforms that will drive this Socioeconomic Agenda is the acceleration of

infrastructure as well as the development of industries that will produce dynamic growth in the

Philippines, create jobs and improve the lives of Filipinos.

The Administration created a platform called the “Build Build Build Portal” where they

lists and post information on high impact projects that are alleged envisioned to increase the

productive capacity of the economy, create jobs, increase incomes, and strengthen the

investment climate leading to sustained inclusive growth.

Included in the 70 infrastructure projects posted in the BBB portal are construction and

improvement of various roads, ports, airports, subways and railways in the country. Here are

some of the BBB projects listed below:

1. Runway Manila (Start: December 2016/ Completed: April 2017)

2. NAIA-X (Status: On-going/ Completed: April 2017)

3. Luzon Spine Expressway Network (Status: On-going)


4. Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, TPLEX (Status: On-going/ Completed: 2018)

5. NLEX-SLEX Connector(Start: 2019/ Completed: 2021)

6. Harbor Link Project (Start: 2014/ Completed: December 2017)

7. Cavite-Laguna Expressway, CALA-X (Start: 2017/Completed: 2020)

8. Central Luzon Link Expressway, CLLEX (Start: 2016/Completed: 2020)

9. 12 Pasig River, Marikina River and Manggahan Floodway Bridges (Start: 2018 to 2021)

10. Bacolod Economic Highway (Start: 2017/ Completed: 2022)

11. Leyte Tide Embankment (Start: 2016/Completed: 2022)

12. Metro Cebu Expressway (Start: 2018/ Completed: 2022)

13. Panguil Bay Bridge (Start: 2018/ Completed: 2021)

14. Puerto Princesa Airport

15. New Bohol (Panglao) Airport

16. Mactan Cebu International Airport

17. Bicol International Airport

18. Night Rating of Airports

19. PNR North Railway

20. PNR South Railway

21. Minadanao Railway

22. Mega Manila Subway

23. MRT Line 7

24. LRT 1 Cavite Extension

25. LRT Line 2 East Extension


26. Common Station

27. Southwest Integrated Transport System

28. South ITS

29. EDSA Central Corridor BRT

30. Cavite Gateway Terminal

31. Port Modernization Project

32. Clark International Airport

33. BGC-NAIA Bus Rapid Transit

34. Subic-Clark Cargo Railway Project

One of the plans includes building an entirely new railway system from Manila down to

Legazpi, which would reach about 620 kilometers. There would also be a 1,200 kilometers

railway system in Mindanao. The said projects have led the Philippines to negotiate with Japan

regarding specific and important projects that would possibly create several job opportunities

for Filipinos.

The Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management said that the Philippines

will leverage Japanese technology and know-how to the fullest extent to positively cooperate

for the improvement of infrastructure in Metro Manila and the whole Philippines. The

approved one-trillion-yen aid package (approx. $9 billion) from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo

Abe for the Philippines including both government aid and private investments. With this

package the administration’s ambitious project will be able to cover the fund needed for

infrastructure projects across the country over the next five years.
As a clear statement to the Japan’s intention in its generosity, it explained that it will

just strengthen its commercial engagement in the region as it contends for power with rival,

China and to use the Philippines as its gateway to the ASEAN market. It may be a win-win

situation for the Philippines since the Japan and Philippine relationship offers fund to a

promising golden age of infrastructure and great investment opportunity.

The Duterte administration’s boldest infrastructure program in history includes almost

70 infrastructure projects across the archipelago. Under the 2017 budget, the government

plans to increase infrastructure spending to more than 5% of the GDP. In relation to this, a

comprehensive tax reform will be considered also to help fund the infrastructure program. We

can grasp that the infrastructure program is an unparalleled move from a Filipino president, as

the government attempts to address Manila’s disreputable congestion and other transport

bottlenecks.

Considering that evident congestion in the country, the large-scale investments to

infrastructures will definitely conquered it which valour is an issue for investors to get

discouraged in establishing operations in the Philippines. The robust growth and development

in roads, ports, airports and railways will also put the country on footpath to becoming the

gateway to the growing ASEAN region. In addition, economists have viewed infrastructure as a

key factor for productivity and growth. I think it is important to comprehend the pragmatic

importance of the various transmission mechanisms through which infrastructure affects the

country’s growth to which the Duterte’s administration tries to pursue.


In South East Asia, the Philippine is among the most attractive destinations for foreign

investment. But, one of the barriers for this good opportunity is the lack of adequate

infrastructure and investors see it as one major concern. This is the reason why President

Duterte has pledged to an ambitious $16 billion infrastructure plan during his six-year tenure

plan. Certainly, the provision and development of infrastructure has been the subject of many

studies both theoretical and empirical studies.

It may seem to be an ambitious infrastructure plan with an allotment of 160

billion dollars budget. Yet, President Duterte can count on the Japanese aid and other private

investments to pursue the completion of the infrastructure package. The administration may

have seen that investment in public infrastructure can also impact investment adjustment costs

and the durability of private capital. With a great quality of infrastructure, the stability of

private capital may be affected in a positive way.

Having better infrastructure means improvement in access to health-care and education

which magnifies the growth impact of public infrastructure with the interconnected

relationship between education and health. People with higher education also healthy both

contribute to increased labour productivity leading to growth.

One good thing about this “golden age of infrastructure” is that the Duterte

Administration manages to put the DPWH, DOTr, BCDA and DBM together in cooperative

manner. With this coordination alignment amongst these government agencies, the

infrastructures program can be completed with success.


Another point that is good in this Duterte Administration project, the continuation of

some infrastructure projects from the previous administration. This step of President Duterte is

indeed a time and pennywise since the projects had been started by other past presidents he

enabled its continuity to be completed. All resources used by the past administration on these

unfinished projects will not be wasted.

In the end, the goal of the Duterte Administration to usher the country to the “golden

age of infrastructure” is for our country to progress and to give it an enormous potential for

development which will definitely benefit the people. The only challenge is that as to whether

the President will be able to manage the project until the completion stage giving greater

administrative powers and functions. It will also depend on how it will be financed and the

construction management will be.

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