SO far, it appears the Duterte administration’s vaunted “Build, build, build” drive is 0-for-2 in its efforts to throw a few bridges across Metro Manila’s major waterways. The existing bridge, which is only 10 years old, was closed to traffic on Sunday in preparation for its demolition to make way for a new, four-lane bridge. The two bridges, with a combined price tag of about P5.4 billion, are being funded by a Chinese development grant, and are part of a larger plan for a total of 12 new or replacement bridges spanning the Pasig River and the Manggahan Floodway. The existing bridges in the area—the Jones Bridge on the west side of the Post Office and the Del Pan Bridge at the mouth of the river—are frequently congested to near-gridlock conditions. Driving forward just for the sake of having something to show for a “build, build, build” effort that is increasingly looking as sluggish as the last administration’s version of the “we’re going to build infrastructure” plan will do no one any good if what is produced turns out to be folly.

Source: Manila Times September 26, 2018 16:18 UTC