The NEDA Board Committee on Infrastructure identified 75 major projects, known as Flagship Projects, for the country to build and develop. Of these, 53 have an approved budget. Flagship Projects are led by President Rodrigo R. Duterte and DOTr, the Department of Transportation, DPWH, and the BCDA, or the Philippines Bases Conversion and Development Authority. This data is up to June 27, 2017.
Infrastructure projects in the Philippines lack social infrastructure
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While the Philippines has made progress in implementing various reforms, there are still major challenges ahead. Inadequate social infrastructure and poor physical infrastructure limit the country’s ability to deliver better economic and social development. The country’s transportation infrastructure is sluggish and overcrowded. It takes five minutes to travel a single kilometer in Metro Manila, which is the country’s economic center. It also lacks adequate water and sanitation services, and it lacks effective solid waste disposal systems.
The Philippine Institute for Development Studies recently conducted a study on the implications of BBB and how it relates to the country’s Philippine Development Plan. They found that a large percentage of the government’s infrastructure projects lack social infrastructure, including health facilities and school buildings. The Philippine Development Plan aims to fill the gaps in basic infrastructure, including social infrastructure, while reducing inequality nationwide. Despite this, the government has yet to implement the PDP, and many are worried that the incoming administration will squander the opportunity to implement its plans.
They lack technology adoption and innovation
In spite of the recent strong economic growth, the Philippines still lacks robust infrastructure. According to the World Bank, infrastructure has not translated into inclusive growth. Poverty levels remain at a standstill despite the strong economic growth. According to the Philippine Institute for Development Studies and the World Bank’s Enterprise Survey, about one-third of firms are product innovators while thirty to forty per cent are engaged in process innovation. Major determinants of innovative behavior in the Philippines include gross sales, educational attainment of employees, location, and knowledge management practices.
The Philippines’s performance on the GII Index is weak in terms of the digital divide and the implementation of advanced technologies. The country is ranked 95th out of 189 economies. Developing countries like the Philippines are struggling with these issues, but governments are still cautious about implementing new technologies and improving infrastructure. The country’s infrastructure is the foundation of a successful community. But governments are hesitant to invest in the sector because they fear the negative consequences. To address this situation, the Asian Development Bank has pledged $100 million to fund the Philippines’ Infrastructure Preparation and Innovation Facility (IPIF).
They lack water resources
The Philippines has rich natural resources, including abundant inland freshwater and groundwater, as well as marine, coastal, and ocean waters. While these resources are sufficient for the Philippines’ population, they are insufficient in areas of high population density. Fortunately, the government is taking steps to address this issue through financial, regulatory, and institutional reforms. Listed below are some of the strategies the Government is adopting. They include: a) Professionalize water utilities; b) Expand and enhance investment in public water supply and sanitation facilities; c) Provide more potable water and sanitation services to the poor; and c) Implement additional processes for water treatment.
Providing improved water services to the Philippines has become a priority for the government. Direct Relief is helping to increase the water supply in these regions and improve the lives of residents. In northern Luzon, they have partnered with the FLDP GeEx Community Development Foundation to establish water stations for the poor. Each station serves at least 30 families. The pumps are hand-operated, which is essential in areas without electricity. In this way, the poorest communities can access clean, safe water.
They lack energy
The power system in the Philippines is one of the most expensive in Southeast Asia and it’s unreliable. Many Filipinos commute five miles to work in one hour. While the roads are in poor condition, the wasted energy and productivity cost the Philippines an estimated 876 billion pesos annually. The Philippines’ economy is worth about $250 billion, making the cost of a crumbling infrastructure even more outrageous. And yet the government has acknowledged the problem and increased its spending on infrastructure to 400 billion pesos (about $9.1 billion).
In addition to these problems, the Filipino government has been failing to provide adequate resources to support its people’s needs. For example, about 12% of the country’s population is poor. This translates to more than three million people. Another 4.5 million Filipinos live in informal settlements or are homeless. Approximately 3 million people live in Metro Manila. The city is the world’s densest, with 66,000 people per square kilometer compared to New York City’s 12,000 residents.
