Under the “Build, Build, Build” initiative, more than P8 trillion will be spent by the Duterte administration during its six-year term so that the share of infrastructure spending in the gross domestic product (GDP) will rise from 5.3 percent this year to 7.4 percent in 2022.

This plan has so far won the support of many in the business community, but some raised reservations after the government decided on a hybrid approach instead of the public-private partnership (PPP) scheme.

Economic managers decided on a hybrid plan wherein the public sector will build the infrastructure and the private sector will be allowed to bid for the operation and maintenance contract.

In previous private forums, Barcelon said that the chamber voiced its eagerness to hear more about the socioeconomic benefits attached to this infrastructure boost, but noted that they were “not seeing too much of it yet.” He, however, said that that he was “more than confident” that it was in the works.

Named the “Philippine Development Forum: Sulong Pilipinas 2017,” the event yesterday marked the second year of the consultative workshop that began in 2016 in order to facilitate a dialogue between business leaders and economic managers.

Barcelon said that this would be held on a yearly basis to “revalidate and recalibrate” the key points discussed, after the first Sulong Pilipinas came up with 10 recommendations for the government.

While PCCI is generally supportive of the Duterte administration’s programs, Barcelon said that some things were “missed out,” citing as an example the slow push of the development in the information and technology sector outside of Metro Manila.