IMEE: "BID-BUILD-BUILD" OPTION WILL FUND FIGHT VS. COVID-19

Senator Imee Marcos said the government need not give up infrastructure projects in its Build, Build, Build (BBB) program to fund the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marcos, who chairs the Senate committee on economic affairs, said the government should consider a "bid-build-build option" by auctioning parts of BBB projects to private bidders, which is aligned with the public-private partnership (PPP) concept.

"Long- delayed PPP and local joint-venture projects should finally be decided and urgently green-lighted. So many PPP have been pending with government in the past four years!" Marcos explained.

"Private bidders with cash and generosity to spare can help the government in this time of crisis by bidding for parts of BBB projects," Marcos added.

"More innovative solutions are needed to shore up dwindling government funds and keep the economy afloat while COVID-19 stays around," Marcos said.

Marcos agrees with the government's position that the BBB program "must push onward with minimal compromise," to jumpstart the economy from its passive state once the pandemic eases.

Thousands of construction workers will also be able to keep their jobs and find new ones if BBB projects continue, Marcos added.