INFRASTRUCTURE
SECTOR BACKGROUND AND POTENTIAL
The Philippines is significantly underinvesting in physical infrastructure, with its public sector infrastructure budget consistently below 3% of GDP. Spending on social infrastructure for education and health is also inadequate at slightly over 4% of GDP. Polls of businessmen repeatedly show poor infrastructure as one of the top challenges facing the Philippine economy, second only to corruption. Like corruption, poor infrastructure severely weakens economic competitiveness.
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Airports
With its archipelagic character, the Philippines depends on air and sea transport much more than countries with large continuous landmasses. Since a high percentage of domestic and international commerce and travel is by air and sea, the efficiency of aviation and maritime transportation.... [ Read This Chapter ]Power
Electric power and water are essential needs for modern man, to survive, and to thrive. In the globe’s fastest-growing region – Asia – they are especially critical to economic growth and competitiveness. [ Read This Chapter ]
[OPINION] Beat the traffic, build a subway
3 November, 2017 at 12:00
The usual skeptics think that while a subway can provide relief for Metro Manila denizens slowly dying from inhaling polluted air and grappling with horrendous traffic, an underground rail system is not feasible in the flood-prone national capital.
PHL near bottom in 4G availability, speed
2 November, 2017 at 18:00
The Philippines has among the lowest long-term evolution (LTE) speed and availability rates globally, a report by a London-based firm said.
[OPINION] DICT internet roadmap
31 October, 2017 at 08:00
A few weeks after the lawyer secretary of DICT was replaced by a telecommunications technocrat, things started moving on our age old problem of slow internet. Last Monday, I shared the diagnosis of the problem made by DICT OIC Sec. Eliseo Rio Jr.
SMC gains edge in Clark airport project
30 October, 2017 at 15:30
Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) obtained the coveted original proponent status for its proposal to build a P700-billion “aerotropolis” in Bulacan province, giving it a big advantage ahead of a bidding process yet to be set by the government.
[OPINION] More telco issues
30 October, 2017 at 13:31
Now that there is apparently some movement at DICT that promises more competition in the local telco industry, experts are bringing up issues that must be addressed if the DICT effort is to have a chance of success.
Gov’t eyes partnership with ISPs to break...
25 October, 2017 at 15:00
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) revealed another route for a so-called third player to break the PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom duopoly: the proliferation of small internet service providers in partnership with the government.
Court of Appeals upholds P70-billion Globe-PLDT deal
24 October, 2017 at 10:24
The Court of Appeals ruled that the acquisition of Globe Telecom Inc and PLDT Inc of a rival firm’s telecommunications assets was legal, as it directed the country’s anti-trust watchdog to stop investigating the deal.
Local government infrastructure projects touted for PPP...
20 October, 2017 at 11:29
The private sector has been invited to explore local government infrastructure projects, particularly outside Metro Manila, after the national government decided to find other means of funding its projects.
[OPINION] ROW problems delay infra projects
18 October, 2017 at 16:30
I got this e-mail from an old friend who had worked on various government infrastructure projects. He confirmed my worst fears about why Build Build Build seems to be stranded.
[OPINION] All cracked up
17 October, 2017 at 14:54
A diplomat who watched President Duterte perorating against the European Union last week said the remarks were so incredible he felt like cracking up.
Duterte fires 2 execs on TV for...
16 October, 2017 at 16:30
President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the dismissal of two officials of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) for delaying the completion of the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 Project.
Foreign Internet providers waiting to enter PH...
5 October, 2017 at 14:00
President Duterte said that foreign Internet service providers were trying to enter the local game but weren’t able to due to inaction by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
China to PHL: Remove hurdles to infrastructure...
29 September, 2017 at 17:00
The Philippine government must address “challenging issues” to ensure that projects funded by concessional loans from China would proceed according to schedule, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua said.
Philippines, Japan agree to speed up infrastructure...
29 September, 2017 at 10:37
Manila and Tokyo have agreed to further speed up the approval and implementation of the Philippine government’s infrastructure projects proposed for Japan’s funding assistance, the Department of Finance (DOF) said yesterday.
[OPINION] The investment and infrastructure challenges in...
21 September, 2017 at 09:54
In the medium term, the government is aiming to reach an annual GDP growth of between 7% and 8%. These rates are higher than we’ve seen in recent years, but our officials are optimistic.
Gov’t urged to prioritize construction of annex...
14 September, 2017 at 22:01
The government should prioritize the development of the remaining spaces at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport into an annex terminal while it is still weighing the two proposals to build new airports either in Sangley Point or Bulacan.
