Gov't earmarks P63B for right-of-way costs in 2020 budget

The government is set to spend over P60 billion next year to clear the right-of-way (ROW) requirements of several big-ticket projects under the administration's ambitious infrastructure spending program.

According to House Deputy Speaker and Surigao del Sur Representative Johnny Pimentel, agencies involved in the Build, Build, Build program will spend P63 for ROW costs in 2020 —P19 billion for the Department of Transportation (DOTr), and P44B for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

"To foster greater transparency, we are renewing our call for both departments to post on their respective websites the list of payees, the amounts paid and the properties acquired to pave the way for infrastructure projects," said Pimentel.

"This is crucially important, considering that the allocations for ROW spending appear as lump sums in the budget," he pointed out.

The amount will cover ROW costs for several infrastructure projects such as the Kalibo International Airport; Roxas Airport in Capiz; Dumaguete Airport in Negros Oriental; Calbayog Airport in Samar; and the Ipil Airport in Zamboanga Sibugay.

Also included are Zamboanga International Airport; Mati Airport in Davao Oriental; M'lang Airport in North Cotabato; the Metro Manila Subway Phase I, North-South Commuter Railway; South Long-Haul Railway; the Cebu International Container Port; and the Mindanao Railway.

To recall, Congress failed to pass the 2019 budget on time, and President Rodrigo Duterte was able to sign the General Appropriations Act only in April.

According to the economic team,  this was the cause for the slowdown of the Philippine economy which registered a growth of 5.5% in the second quarter, the slowest pace in four years.

According to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the economy should have grown by 1 percentage point more, if not for the reenacted budget.

The agency has since called on NEDA to pass the proposed P4.1-trillion budget for 2020 on time to ensure economic growth. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/LBG, GMA News