Throughout history, infrastructure has served as both the foundation of economic prosperity and the battleground of political struggle. It is not simply about roads and bridges—it is about the political will to defy stagnation, the strategic vision to connect fragmented communities, and the challenge of dismantling bureaucratic inefficiencies that have long stifled national progress. In this context, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s "Build, Build, Build" (BBB) program stands as one of the most ambitious and transformative infrastructure undertakings in Philippine history.
While critics sought to reduce Duterte’s presidency to controversies and political rhetoric, the tangible legacy of BBB remains indisputable. The roads, bridges, airports, and railways built under this program are not abstract concepts—they are lived realities, altering the daily experiences of millions of Filipinos. They represent a rare instance in Philippine governance: a promise that was, at least in large part, delivered.
Breaking the Cycle of Neglect
For decades, Philippine infrastructure development remained stagnant, characterized by half-measures and unfulfilled promises. Prior to BBB, infrastructure spending was dismally low, hovering at an average of 2.4% of GDP under past administrations. Bureaucratic inefficiency, corruption, and lack of political urgency meant that crucial projects were either abandoned or delayed indefinitely. This systematic neglect crippled economic development, deepened regional inequalities, and left the nation at the mercy of congestion, inefficiency, and deteriorating public services.
Duterte’s administration disrupted this cycle with an aggressive infrastructure agenda. The goal was not just to build, but to build massively and rapidly, recognizing that without such a fundamental shift, the country would remain trapped in underdevelopment. The program increased infrastructure spending to a peak of 5.3% of GDP, a stark contrast to previous administrations’ timid approach. Though the administration had set a goal of 7.0%, even this shortfall does not diminish the magnitude of what was achieved.
Concrete Achievements: The Reality on the Ground
The numbers speak for themselves. Under BBB, approximately 40,080 kilometers of roads and 6,854 bridges were constructed, maintained, widened, or rehabilitated. This was not an abstract policy directive—it was asphalt laid down on the ground, steel and concrete forged into pathways that physically connected Filipinos to economic opportunities.
Projects such as the Skyway Stage 3, the NLEX Harbor Link, and the TPLEX extension revolutionized transport efficiency, cutting travel times and reducing the economic toll of traffic congestion. Bridges such as the BGC-Ortigas Center Link and the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge redefined urban mobility, easing access between key commercial hubs.
In the railway sector, the Metro Manila Subway Project finally commenced construction after decades of delays, signaling a long-overdue investment in modern mass transit. The rehabilitation of MRT-3 and the completion of the LRT Line 2 East Extension further underscored the government’s commitment to solving the perennial crisis of urban transportation.
Meanwhile, in air and sea transport, the New Bohol-Panglao Airport, Bicol International Airport, and Clark International Airport expansion enhanced connectivity both domestically and internationally. The completion of 579 commercial and social tourism ports strengthened trade routes, benefiting industries and coastal communities alike.
Beyond transport, the administration invested in disaster resilience and social infrastructure. 13,917 flood control projects were implemented, addressing chronic flooding issues that had long plagued urban and rural areas. Education and disaster preparedness were prioritized with the construction of 157,383 classrooms and 223 evacuation centers—investments in human capital and national security that will bear long-term benefits.
Infrastructure as a Political Act
Infrastructure is never neutral. It is a political statement, a reflection of where power is directed and whose interests are served. The Duterte administration, for all its controversies, made infrastructure a centerpiece of governance—an implicit acknowledgment that economic progress cannot be achieved without addressing decades of state neglect.
Of course, the BBB program was not without its flaws. Some major railway projects, such as the Mindanao Railway, faced persistent delays, exposing the limitations of bureaucratic efficiency. Right-of-way issues, financing constraints, and environmental concerns hindered the full realization of the program’s ambitions. The rapid expansion of infrastructure also raised questions about debt sustainability, as critics warned of the long-term economic implications of increased foreign borrowing.
Yet, to focus solely on these shortcomings without recognizing the larger structural transformation underway is to miss the point entirely. No large-scale infrastructure program unfolds without obstacles. The more critical question is whether an administration is willing to confront these challenges head-on, rather than using them as excuses for inaction.
The Future of Infrastructure Development
As the Philippines moves forward, the gains of BBB must not be abandoned. The momentum established under Duterte’s leadership should serve as a foundation, not an anomaly. If anything, the program’s challenges should inform future infrastructure initiatives, ensuring that delays and inefficiencies are minimized.
More importantly, the philosophy behind BBB—that infrastructure is essential, not optional—must be ingrained in future policymaking. The failure to sustain this momentum would mean a return to the stagnation of past decades, condemning the nation to a future of missed opportunities and unrealized potential.
A Legacy Beyond Rhetoric
Rodrigo Duterte’s political style was divisive, his rhetoric often incendiary. But infrastructure development does not exist in the realm of rhetoric; it exists in the tangible, in the steel and concrete that form the arteries of economic progress. The BBB program was not merely a political slogan—it was a structural transformation of the nation’s physical and economic landscape.
Duterte's critics will attempt to downplay or dismiss these achievements, but the reality remains: the Philippines is in a far better infrastructural position today than it was before his presidency. The roads that now connect provinces, the railways that will shape future mobility, and the ports and airports that drive commerce—all these are testaments to an administration that, for all its faults, understood the fundamental role of infrastructure in national development.
For a nation long accustomed to broken promises, "Build, Build, Build" was an assertion that action—real, measurable action—was still possible. The challenge now is whether future leaders will have the same resolve to continue building, or whether the progress of the past six years will become just another footnote in history, buried under the weight of political inertia.
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