Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 13) — National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan on Friday said the government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program must not be affected by the recent corruption allegations hounding transportation authorities.
Reacting to Sen. Grace Poe’s call to halt the implementation of the PUV modernization, Balisacan said the program “should proceed” if the issues raised do not directly concern the program.
READ: Poe calls for suspension of PUV modernization plan amid corruption claims
“If there are problems, they should deal with those issues directly but don’t hostage the entire government. Kung wala naman issue dun (If there’s no issue in that), why do we stop?” he said when asked for comments during a Palace briefing.
Balisacan said that NEDA-approved infrastructure projects are already in various stages, adding that those under implementation are “well-identified.”
The NEDA official even said that due to “infrastructure deficits” across the country, the government has difficulty in enticing foreign investors as moving goods can be costly.
“We can’t afford to wait any further,” he said. “How patient are we? Nakikita mo (You can see) even countries that were so poor in the 70s are much richer than us. I think we need to catch up.”
Jeffrey Tumbado, who was an executive assistant to Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III, recently bared the alleged corruption practices in the agency.
This prompted President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to axe Guadiz and order a probe into the allegations.
A few days later, however, Tumbado recanted his claims.
READ: LTFRB whistleblower recants corruption allegations; apologizes to Guadiz, Bautista
