Speakership contender Martin Romualdez has promised President Rodrigo Duterte that the 18th Congress will prioritize funding for his pet projects, especially the flagship “Build, Build, Build”.
The Leyte representative has also promised a united lower house at a private dinner with Duterte and Sen.-elect Bong Go.
“I told the President that my fellow congressmen, even before Congress opens session on July 22, have begun working on the measures that need to be discussed ASAP,” Romualdez was quoted in an Inquirer.net report as saying.
According to Romualdez, 28 of the 75 projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program are set to be completed before Duterte steps down in 2022.
Among the big-ticket projects are the Metro Manila Subway and two other railways, six airports, three bus rapid transits, 32 roads and bridges, four seaports, four energy facilities, 10 water resource projects and irrigation systems, and five flood control facilities.
Lawmakers recently had a multi-party caucus about the timely approval of Duterte’s legislative agenda and pet projects.
“I informed the President that House leaders have already established a reliable communication line with Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez and other economic managers to ensure that the 2020 national budget will be approved before the end of the year,” Romualdez said.
