Political will… daw!

DEMAND AND SUPPLY By Boo Chanco (The Philippine Star)

Updated September 22, 2017 - 12:00am

It is probably just as well that Transport Secretary Art Tugade didn’t get his emergency powers from Congress. Now he has an excuse for having obligated only 18 percent of his 2017 budget with less than four months to go. Having obligated one’s budget, in bureaucratese, means wala pang nagawa... plano pa lang.

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One other major project that needs strong political will is the connector road project from NLEX to SLEX. Once completed, it is supposed to absorb as much as 50 per cent of EDSA traffic. It is supposed to be completed next year but is now indefinitely delayed due to right of way issues. Here are specifics:

1. For section 1 from Buendia to Quirino - ROW is yet to be secured over property owned by Sincere Lumber Corp. TRB and DPWH still negotiating.

2. For section 2 from Plaza Dilao to SM Centerpoint, nothing is happening on ROW negotiations between government and affected private land owners. There is a pending San Juan River realignment proposal with DPWH to hasten the construction in this particular section to avoid ROW problems and meet completion targets. DPWH Sec Mark Villar can’t seem to make the decision to allow the diversion even as he also can’t deliver the ROW.

3. For section 3 from Aurora Blvd to Balintawak - ROW issues include various residential and commercial properties plus those of NGCP and Meralco. Tugade has to get Villar to act faster so this extremely vital project can be completed sooner.

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Tugade seems to be concentrating more on PR than actually groundbreaking projects. That isn’t going to work. Sen Legarda already exposed him for underperforming, if the non use of his budget is an indication.