President Rodrigo Duterte meets with officials from Cavite, CAVITEX Holdings, China Communication Construction Company and China Airport Construction Group at Grand Hyatt Hotel in Beijing on Friday. (Presidential Photo)

BEIJING—President Rodrigo Duterte wants major government projects under the Build, Build, Build Program completed before he steps down from power as he met with several business groups engaged in construction business in a courtesy call here on Friday.

Among those who held a meeting with the President at the Grand Hyatt Hotel were local officials from Cavite and companies involved in the Sangley Point International Airport project.

Entities involved in the project included Cavite Holdings, China Communication Construction Co. (CCCC) and China Airport Construction Group Co. Ltd.

The President told the project proponents to finish the Sangley Point International Airport in two years.

“Whatever your plans, do it fast,” the President ordered.

The project must be completed before his term ends, he said.

Construction delegates from the Philippines also met with President Duterte in another courtesy call, expressing their full support for the administration and, at the same time, suggesting the crafting of a law that will ensure continuity in the implementation of major government infrastructure projects.

They renewed their commitment to help sustain the administration’s Build, Build, Build Program and told the President that they look at China as a source of new technologies, as well as know-how to improve quality and minimize wastage.

The officials from the country’s construction sector want the Duterte government to adopt multi-year program to sustain its Build, Build, Build Program and streamline government programs through wide use of electronic data.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the institutionalization of government spending program through legislation would ensure continuity of big-ticket state projects.

Currently, the Philippines lags behind its Asian neighbors in terms of infrastructure development, Lopez said.

In response, the President said he would ponder on the issues raised by the construction industry, saying he is a man in a hurry and wants most government projects completed before the conclusion of his term.

He also acknowledged the New People’s Army’s (NPA) extortion activities as one of the concerns faced by many contractors and made an assurance that his government will do all everything to address the problem.

Also present were Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Presidential Legal Counsel and Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, and Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago Sta. Romana. (PND)