Dozens of flagship infra projects behind schedule, only 4 on track—DEPDev

MANILA — Thirty-three Infrastructure Flagship Projects targeted for completion by 2028 are “behind schedule”, according to the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev).

During the House Committee on Flagship Programs and Projects meeting on Tuesday, DEPDev Assistant Secretary Roderick Planta said that of 37 flagship projects originally targeted to be finished by 2028, only four are on track for completion. 

Planta said among the constraints in project implementation are site availability, procurement, budget and fund flow, as well as government and funding institution approvals, and design and technical issues. There are also cases of force majeure, he said. But right-of-way also remains an issue. 

“Yung right of way po ‘yung final piece of the puzzle. Nagtatagal po rin doon,” Planta said.

In an interview, Committee chair Valenzuela 1st District Representative Kenneth Gatchalian said the budget for flagship projects will be brought up with the House Committee on Appropriations.

“Right now, the best we can do is talk to the Appropriations Committee and through [the] bicam [bicameral conference committee] also, just to make sure that the budget allocated for them will not be cut anymore, and present the flagship projects to make sure that all of these are being implemented on track,” Gatchalian said.