Speaker Romualdez seeks more public-private partnerships for infra projects

Speaker Martin Romualdez has pushed for more public-private partnership projects to modernize the country’s infrastructure.

Romualdez made the call on Wednesday at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Third Candaba Viaduct project of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) and NLEx Corp. held in Barangay Dulong Malabon in Pulilan, Bulacan.

The Third Candaba Viaduct project, which is expected to be finished by November 2024, will expand the existing viaduct structure by adding inner and outer shoulders to the three lanes in each direction and is expected to increase the speed of travel from the current 40–60 kilometers per hour to 60–80 kph.

"The Candaba Third Viaduct serves as a symbol of the fruitful partnership between the government and the private sector. It is a testament to what we can achieve when we work together," Romualdez said.

Romualdez said that while the existing Candaba Viaduct has been serving as a strategic expressway link connecting Metro Manila and Central and North Luzon for decades, it has to be upgraded to keep up with the country’s population and economic growth.

"The project will not only enhance the efficiency of our transportation network but also contribute to the overall socio-economic development of the region, as it would create jobs, attract investments, and stimulate economic growth. As we break ground today, we are not just laying the foundation for a new structure; we are paving the way for prosperity," he said.

Romualdez said President Ferdinand "Bongbong'' Marcos Jr., as well as Bulacan lawmakers and local officials, have provided crucial support. 

"Under his leadership, we have witnessed a renewed commitment to the Build Build Build program, which seeks to propel us to progress and inclusive growth," he said.

In May, the House of Representatives approved House Bill 8078, which outlines the country’s 30-year infrastructure program, on third and final reading.

The bill provides the following priority areas for infrastructure development: transportation, energy, water resources, information and communications technology, agri-fisheries modernization, and food logistics, among others. —VBL, GMA Integrated News