Filtered By: Money
Money

Build, Build, Build under Marcos administration should focus on poor communities –UP professor


A University of the Philippines (UP) professor on Saturday said the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program of President Rodrigo Duterte should focus on poor communities if it will continue under the Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos administration.

When he was a presidential aspirant, Marcos vowed that he would prioritize the development of a digital infrastructure alongside continuing the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program.

“Ngayon ang gusto po natin baguhin. Yung Build, Build, Build ituloy pero focus on the communities of the urban poor, rural poor nationwide. Ang sama sama ng situwasyon ng mga poor communities. We are not against infra development but i-align po,” UP Professor Emeritus Dr. Rene Ofreneo said in a forum.

(Now, we want it to change. The Build, Build, Build program will continue but focus on the communities of the urban poor, rural poor nationwide. The situation of poor communities is devastating. We are not against infra development but please align it to these communities.)

Ofreneo also said that people should not be treated merely as objects of “ayuda,” adding that the community approach must be strengthened in crafting survival and amelioration programs for the poor.

He said that welfare programs should go side by side with community building programs involving the people such as engaging communities in solidarity economic programs, community herbal gardens, and community kitchens among others.

Meanwhile, Ofreneo said strengthening the reforestation of upland and mangrove areas would also create more jobs in the future.

“Kaugnay niyan yung greening of the whole economy, yung reforestation of upland and mangrove areas, yung just transition in energy marami rin pong trabahong malilikha yan,” he added.

(The greening of the whole economy, the reforestation of upland and mangrove areas, and the just transition in energy will also create a lot of jobs for the people.)

Marcos earlier said his post-pandemic jobs creation plan will continue the Build, Build, Build program of Duterte and add to that digital infrastructure.

Apart from infrastructure, President-elect Marcos said another problem that needed to be addressed was the energy sector.

He said he would expand the development of hydroelectric and other renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and geothermal. — DVM, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT