THE pandemic has offered the government enough time to restructure or reform our poor transportation system. Unfortunately, the restrictions are almost gone but the traffic situation especially in Metro Manila remains the same.

Another opportunity to improve the transport sector is coming via the national elections next year. A presidential candidate vowed to deliver this by prioritizing key infrastructure projects.

Panfilo Lacson said he will prioritize key infrastructure projects especially on transportation, inter-island connectivity, regional food terminals, and health facilities.

He said the Build, Build, Build program completed only 11 out of 119 flagship projects as of second quarter of 2021.

In the past five years, P78 billion were spent for preventive maintenance of roads and other infrastructure and not based on the needs of the people, Lacson said adding that excavating roads that are in still good condition should be stopped.

Lacson made the remarks when he and four other presidential aspirants recently to the business community their economic platforms when elected in the top national position.

During the 47th Philippine Business Conference and Expo of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the country’s largest business organization, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Senators Bong Go, Manny Pacquiao, Vice President Leni Robredo and Lacson were given the chance to discuss their programs for the economy.

Moreno aims to slash taxes on two basic commodities –petroleum and electricity.

The Philippines should also move from business process outsourcing to knowledge process outsourcing, creating high quality jobs for Filipinos, he added.

The Manila mayor added he will continue the Build, Build, Build program of the current administration, but its focus will be building affordable housing.

On the other hand, Go vowed to continue the comprehensive tax reform program, national rice program, Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso or P3 program, and the Build, Build, Build, program, among others.

For his part, Pacquaio said his administration will further cut corporate income tax from the current 25 percent to 15 percent,

The government should focus on revenue generation but boosting the non-tax revenues of the government, he said.

According to the Department of Finance, non-tax revenues of the government only account for less than 10 percent of the total revenues.

Most government revenues come from taxes collected from the Bureau of Internal Revenues and the Bureau of Customs.

Even with the higher allocation for infrastructure and education during this administration, Robredo said she will improve spending in these two sectors.

Infrastructure projects will be shifted away from car-centric public budgeting to building more bus rapid transit, protected bike lanes, safe pathways, safe bus stops, and railways for Filipinos’ long-term needs.

All five candidates expressed the need to protect and give more support to the agriculture and fisheries sector, and lowering overall cost of borrowings for micro, small and medium enterprises.

Not in the conference is leading presidential bet Bong Bong Marcos who is aiming to upgrade the country’s infrastructure to make it the next logistics hub in Asia.

There is need to upgrade the country’s aging seaports, airports and railways, as well as expanding them he said adding that port automation, computerization and artificial intelligence are required to increase efficiency and prevent port congestion. This will result to lower shipping costs, he explained.

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