SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go expressed his support for the proposed 2021 budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways and its attached corporations as he urged the department to ensure the completion of all its priority infrastructure projects before the term of President Rodrigo Duterte ends.
During a public hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Finance on Wednesday, October 14, Go said that the DPWH has been hands on in the rebuilding of the country since the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He particularly expressed his gratitude to the department for converting several public facilities into isolation sites and tent cities to cater to Persons Under Investigation and Persons Under Monitoring in order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Despite the pandemic, Go called on DPWH Secretary Mark Villar to ensure that the targets they set are being met and that their projects are accomplished before the term of Duterte ends.
“Pakiusap ko lang po, Secretary Mark at sa lahat po ng Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries, Regional Directors down, pakiusap ko lang po, huwag tayong mag-iwan ng nakatiwangwang na proyekto bago matapos ‘yung termino ni Pangulong Duterte,” urged Go.
Go noted that DPWH must exert more efforts to meet targets of the administration’s infrastructure programs. “The department needs to act double time in their efforts to lengthen, widen, maintain and construct roads,” said Go.
“The department must also make sure that it is on top when it comes to mitigating flood and building disaster-resilient infrastructures,” he added.
The senator said that the pandemic should not be a reason for projects to be stalled. “Alam ko po na malaki ang epekto ng pandemic sa construction activities ng DPWH pero hindi po iyon sapat na dahilan para hindi matapos ang mga proyekto at maiwan ng nakatiwangwang lamang.”
“Naniniwala ako sa kakayahan ng DPWH at kay Secretary Mark Villar na hindi nila ito hahayaang mangyari. Ipagpatuloy po natin ang pagbabayanihan, pagmamalasakit, at pagseserbisyo sa ating mga kababayan,” he said.
“Full support po ako at congrats po kay Secretary Mark sa mga nagawa ninyo, kahit si Pangulo ay very impressed sa nagawa ninyong infrastructure, parati po niyang nababanggit ‘yan,” said Go.
