Speaker: PPPs key to infra dev’t

By Maricel V. Cruz

SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Wednesday called for more projects through publicprivate partnership (PPP), saying it is the key to the modernization of the country’s infrastructure necessary to usher progress and development and uplift the lives of people.

The Speaker aired this call in his message at the groundbreaking rites for the Third Candaba Viaduct project of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) and NLEx Corp. held at Brgy. Dulong Malabon in Pulilan, Bulacan.

Targeted for completion on Novem- ber 2024, the project will expand the existing viaduct structure by adding inner and outer shoulders to the three lanes in each direction and is expected to increase the speed of travel from the current 40-60 kph to 60-80 kph. He expressed his gratitude to Presi- dent Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. for his unwavering support for the development of the country’s infrastructure, and thanked Pampanga representatives in the 19th Congress, including Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales, Jr., Deputy Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and Representatives Jon Lazatin and Anna York Bondoc, as well as the cooperation of local government officials of Bulacan and Pampanga, which helped make the project a reality the soonest time possible.

Romualdez noted that the Candaba Viaduct, which has been serving as a strategic expressway link connecting Metro Manila and the Central and North

Luzon corridor for several decades, has played a vital role in facilitating the movement of people, goods, and services.

“The construction of the Candaba Third Viaduct is a testament to our collective commitment to meet these growing demands head-on. This project, with the support of President Bongbong Marcos, is a significant component of the government’s Build Build Build program,” he said. Romualdez meanwhile assured American businesses of the solid commitment of Congress to support the initiatives and programs of President Marcos to make the Philippines a more investor-friendly place.

By Vito Barcelo

VARIOUS labor groups called on the government to grant the P100 wage increase they filed last year, saying the current minimum wage increase can no longer sustain the living conditions of workers.

The labor groups, led by Partido ng Manggagawa filed a petition for a P100 raise in minimum wages on December 6, 2022, but deliberations only started this month.