Robredo vows to ‘build smarter’ as PH president

PHILIPPINES— VICE President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo vowed to “build smarter” if elected president, saying that traditional infrastructure projects are not enough to make the economy resilient.

“What we learned in the pandemic is that traditional infrastructure is not sufficient to make the economy resilient. We will shift away from the largely urban, transport-oriented and costly ‘build-build-build’ emphasis of the current administration. We will build smarter — putting greater emphasis on building and expanding infrastructure to support our current and emerging communities and industries,” she said in a prerecorded Q & A for the forum featuring presidential contenders at the Philippine Business Conference and Expo.

“For example, providing greater access and infrastructure support to digitization will benefit not only the IT (information technology) and BPO (business process outsourcing) sector, but other industries as well,” she said.

Robredo said she will continue the Duterte administration’s Build, Build, Build program but with more emphasis on infrastructure for rural development.

She said her government “will prioritize feasible and strategic projects that provide high impact for the Filipino people.”

“This means shifting away from the failed car-centric public budgeting. We need a better balance for a better normal: more bus rapid transits, better service contracts for transport workers, a just transition for transport workers, protected bike lanes…safe pathways, better bus stops and railways for our long-term needs,” she said.

Robredo also said her administration will invest in “blue” industries such as shipbuilding, aquaculture and maritime transport.

“The Philippines has the fifth largest coastline in the world, the second largest maritime domain and is the second largest supplier of maritime workers. Combined with our strategic location, we have the potential to become a leading maritime power. This sector has huge employment potential in the country, and this is something that our government will really tap into,” she said.

The Philippine Business Conference and Expo is organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.