Philippine Infrastructure and Bridges

Over the previous decade, structural economic reforms and good macroeconomic policies have enabled the Philippine economy to grow at a rate of 6.3 percent per year on average. However, authorities will need to focus their attention on challenges such as high levels of poverty and income gaps, the rise of new digital technologies, and climate change in order to sustain and share the advantages of this growth among its population.

In recent years, the Philippine economy has been one of Asia’s greatest performers. Despite this, the economy is hampered by obsolete and insufficient infrastructure. According to some estimates, driving a single kilometer in Metro Manila takes roughly five minutes.

Image from www.lamudi.com.ph

A major push is underway.

The Philippines has boosted spending on roads, bridges, air and sea ports, and other large-scale projects in recent years to address the problem. Public infrastructure investment increased from 3% of GDP on average between 2011 and 2016 to over 5% in 2018, with the goal of reaching over 6% by 2022. 

The government’s Build Build Build program involves huge projects that focus on transportation, water resources, and energy to overcome key bottlenecks.

Access points for Local Infrastructure and Bridges

A total of P121 million was budgeted for the Tourism Road Infrastructure Program (TRIP) from 2016 to 2021 for the building, improvement, and upgrading of 4,268 km of roads, with 2,436 km of tourism roads finished.

Image from www.palawandailynews.com

Agri-Infrastructure

Farm-to-mill roads are also being built under the Agri-Infrastructure Support Programs, with 2,025 km of farm-to-market roads and 95 km of farm-to-mill roads already constructed.

On the other hand, the Tatag ng Imprastraktura para sa Kapayapaan at Seguridad (TIKAS) Project concentrates on 616 military/police projects, with 133 of them already finished. The Basic Education Facilities Fund Program has already developed and renovated 150,149 classrooms, as well as rehabilitated and improved 2,064 school workshop buildings and other school facilities.

Image from www.mb.com.ph

Regional evacuation centers were also used as health/quarantine facilities to provide health monitoring and treatment for the country’s current situation with the ongoing health crisis — there are now 230 completed evacuation centers, with 105 more under construction, rehabilitation, and improvement.

In response to the ongoing pandemic, the DPWH is also working on mega community quarantine facilities, dormitories, and modular hospitals – there are already 819 quarantine facilities, off-site dorms, and modular hospitals with a total capacity of 29,776 beds.

In Numbers

Every typhoon season, 11,340 flood control projects have been completed, with 4,155 now under development, to alleviate the country’s flood condition.

The Kabasalan River Flood Control Structure in Zamboanga Sibugay, the Estero De Sunog Apog Pumping Station, the Cagayan River Flood Risk Management Project, and the Tagoloan River Flood Risk Management Project are among them.

During these five years, 5,950 bridges were finished, with 1,859 more under construction. The BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road Project, as well as the Estrella Pantaleon Bridge and the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge, are among them.

The Panguil Bay Bridge, which would connect the cities of Tangub in Misamis Occidental with Tubod in Lanao del Norte, is currently under construction. Another important connecting project is the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Link Bridge, which spans 32.47 kilometers and crosses two seas to connect the three islands. 

The Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge, which is currently under construction, is a 32.15-kilometer link that begins at Brgy. Crossing Manila Bay towards Brgy. Alas-asin in Mariveles, Bataan. Cavite, Timalan, Naic.

Between July 2016 and May 2021, the DPWH accomplished a total of 29,264 road widening, construction, and improvements, with 15,134 still in the works. The TPLEX, TPLEX Extension, Central Luzon Link Expressway, NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10 and the C3-R10 Section, the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road, the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3, the NAIAX Phase II, the Alabang-Sucat Skyway Connection and Ramp Extension, and the Cavite-Laguna Expressway are just a few of them.

Benefits of Having a new Infrastructure Facilities and Bridges

The majority of us pay little attention to the bridges and roads that connect our cities. We’d notice if they weren’t there if we woke up one day and they weren’t there. 

Bridges are important in many facets of modern life, allowing us to get to work and school while also contributing to the country’s economic prosperity. Of course, the Filipino people are well aware of this. 

This crucial organization issues a bridge report card every four years, measuring how well these structures are holding up. Continue reading to learn more about the economic impact of infrastructure bridges and what we can do to protect them in the future.

Aiding in Infrastructure

The way bridges assist the transportation of people and products has an economic consequence. Bridges enable consumers to travel to shops and malls as well as visit new places as tourists, in addition to allowing firms to ship materials. 

When a bridge collapses, the surrounding area’s economic activity comes to a standstill since people can no longer acquire goods and services as easily.

Supporting the Local Economy

Bridges also contribute to the local economy by paying wages to construction and repair teams. Even the most well-designed bridges need to be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis. 

The money is subsequently returned to the local community through taxes and purchases of local goods and services by bridge workers.

Bringing Communities Together

The economic significance of the bridge goes beyond basic monetary flow. Bridges bring individuals from various communities together for work or recreation. 

This capability is especially important in places when one town has an abundance of raw materials while another has an unemployed labor force. People and communities can help one another in this way.

Bottomline

We must recognize and accept the costs of constructing infrastructure in the Philippines. This solution’s investment strategy is based on long-term benefits.

We may not be able to fully utilize this infrastructure for the time being, but the next generation and subsequent generations will be able to do so. Examine and comprehend the circumstances thoroughly; consider before you complain, and listen before you protest.