By Leslie D. Venzon
MANILA, Jan. 9 (PNA) — President Benigno S. Aquino III on Friday said the government is further increasing spending on infrastructure across the country to Php562.3 billion this year in a bid to significantly boost economic growth and job creation.
During his visit to Romblon province, President Aquino said the country allotted Php442.3 billion for various infrastructure projects last year from just Php175.4 billion in 2011.
“Panatag po ang loob nating magbuhos ng pondo para sa imprastruktura dahil alam nating bukal ito ng paglago ng ekonomiya. Kapag mas maayos ang kalsada, mas mabilis ang takbo ng mga produkto at serbisyo patungo sa merkado; mas lalago ang negosyo, na siya namang lumilikha ng trabaho, at nagbubukal ng malawakang kaunlaran,” he said.
The President stressed that the government is considering the welfare of the majority of Filipinos in the implementation of infrastructure projects.
“Estratehikong pagkilos ito ng gobyerno upang ihatid ang benepisyo sa mas nangangailangan, at mabigyan sila ng kakayahang makiambag sa kaunlaran. Mahalaga po dito ang maayos na ugnayan ng lokal at pambansang gobyerno,” he said.
The Chief Executive particularly cited the Romblon-Sawang-Agpanabat provincial road, the Sibuyan Circumferential Road, portions of San Jose Circumferential Road, road connecting Sta. Fe-Guinbirayan Provincial Road and the Romblon-Cogon-Sablayan Road.
“Ang mga proyektong ating nabanggit ay bahagi lamang ng malawakan nating estratehiya na paunlarin ang sektor ng imprastraktura,” he added.
Further, President Aquino said his administration’s good governance has resulted in sustained economic growth and 21 positive credit rating actions the Philippines received from different agencies around the world.
“Benepisyo nito: Tayo po’y nag-o-operate deficit pero nakakahiram na tayo nang mas mura dahil nga ho tumaas ang ating credit rating at bumaba ang ating risko; mas naeengganyo ang mga negosyanteng magpasok ng puhunan sa bansa, na nanganganak ng trabaho sa maraming Pilipino,” he said.
“Sa walang patid na paglago naman ng ating GDP (gross domestic product), nabibigyan tayo ng kakayahang maghatid ng agarang benepisyo sa ating mga kababayan,” the President added. (PNA)