 |
||
| 04 FEBRUARY 2008 | . | |
|
|
||
| 04 FEBRUARY 2008 | . | |
|
|
| PGMA pushes 'surge in infra spending' |
|
Pushing her policy of increased government spending on infrastructure
projects to cushion the impact of the expected slowdown of the United States
economy, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo motored today to Valenzuela City
for the groundbreaking ceremonies of the P333-million Mindanao Ave.
extension project in Barangay Ugong. The road extension will cut travel time between the neighboring Metro Manila cities of Quezon, Caloocan and Valenzuela via the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). Completion of the project will also afford motorists and commuters a more convenient and safer travel between the three burgeoning metropolitan enclaves. The project is being undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The President set the tone of the “surge in infrastructure spending” over the weekend during the groundbreaking ceremonies for another fly-over along C-5 road in Paranaque City, and a school building in Pasig. She said that massive government spending on the country’s infrastructure facilities would soften the impact of the economic slowdown in the US, the Philippines’ biggest trade partner. She added that with the uncertainties roiling the US economy, Filipinos will have to rely more on themselves to sustain the growth of the Philippine economy. "Kaya hindi tayo makaka-asa sa mga ekonomiya ng ibang bansa kaya sariling sikap ang ating pag-asa. Kaya ito ay ginagawa natin upang ibsan ang paghina ng ekonomiya at upang palakasin din ang ating pagsulong sa ekonomiya," the President said. The three-kilometer Mindanao Ave. extension project, which will be funded from the P200-billion government budget for infrastructure, forms part of the 300,000 kilometers of roads and bridges programmed to be constructed this year. Once the road project is completed, Mindanao Ave. will provide another important North to South route to support the fast urbanization of the northern portion of Metro Manila. The project will also provide access to businesses servicing the ongoing largescale residential and industrial development in the area and the NLEX via the Malinta exit. With the President during the groundbreaking ceremonies were Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte, DPWH Undersecretary Ramon Aquino and DPWH National Capital Region Director Robert Lala. |
|
|
