The Department of Public Works and Highways is ho-ping to employ 17,000 to 20,000 more workers in the construction industry under the “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) program of the Duterte administration.
“There were around 40,000 ge-nerated jobs and we expect to gene- rate 17,000 to 20,000 more. We need to ge-nerate more employment to allow those economically affected by the pandemic to recover fast,” DPWH Sec. Roger Mercado said.
“The BBB is felt by our people and they are very happy as shown in the trust rating of the DPWH at more than 70 percent and hope to further improve with the constant monitoring and management meetings as the people continue to feel the impact of the DPWH in their lives,” he added.
Mercado said more technical persons, masons, laborers, and others will be needed in the program including the maintenance of roads.
Government data show there were 6.5 million jobs generated under the program from 2016 to 2020. For 2021, the program generated 1.6 million jobs.
Mercado said the BBB program allows the government to directly create jobs aside from the jobs generated from indirect effects of the projects like businesses created as a result of roads and use of the roads.
“We will see to it that this program will redound to the benefit of our people at sana mapakinabangan ng ating mga kababayan, take advantage, make use of our highways, be innovative, plan any livelihood programs that can generate jobs not only the government giving jobs to our people but those who benefit from our infrastructure should also share in this social responsibility in providing jobs,” he said.
With more road users, Mercado said the DPWH has also come up with the “ayuda” (aid) program where the department allots money from its savings for the hiring of people affected by the pandemic and help in the maintenance of roads, roadsides, and highways.
“We have just released P1 million to our maintenance division so that we can hire more people for the ayuda program, as a food for work program which is a social responsibility project of the DPWH,” he said.
Mercado said the department is on target for the completion of the Build, Build, Build projects under the Duterte administration
He said they have completed at least 67 percent of the 70 percent target considering that there are projects that will be completed even after the term of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte.
“I ordered the regional directors and district engineers to see to it that the BBB program especially the contracts set for completion in 2022 will be finished and inaugurated. Projects that will not be completed should break ground dahil itong BBB hindi matatapos this term alone. This is a continuing long-term program of our government to provide better and convenient infrastructure,” he said. – PNA
