Fact-checked by: Laniel Eszy Arive
Red Bullets:
Claim: A Facebook post that claims that the legacy of the Duterte administration is the “Golden Age of Infrastructure,” brought about by the Build, Build, Build (BBB) program.
Rating: Partly False (Missing Context)
The truth: Some of the projects included among the so-called Duterte accomplishments were not originally part of the BBB program and were not constructed (or did not start construction) under the Duterte administration. For example, the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway was originally a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project of late President Benigno Aquino III but was inaugurated under the Duterte administration in 2017.
Why fact-check?: As the election draws near, contents with missing context such as this Facebook post should be fact-checked to avoid confusion and/or deception to the public. More so, fact-checking articles that mention politicians that are running for the upcoming 2022 elections is a must to clarify issues of credit-grabbing and the like.
Red Totality:
On March 15, 2021, a Facebook user named Ailyn Hyudim posted an album containing photos of President Rodrigo Duterte’s supposed accomplishments on the infrastructure front. Most of the projects featured were attributed to the Build, Build, Build (BBB) program.
The BBB has been positioned as the centerpiece program of the Duterte administration, ushering in a “Golden Age of Infrastructure” in the country.
The caption lists a series of hashtags: “#TATAKDUTERTE; #BuildBuildBuild; #DutertePaRin; #SaraDuterte2022; #DuterteLegacy; and #saralangmalakas.” Considering that the Duterte presidency has been a hot topic on social media and first daughter Sara vies for the vice presidential seat, this post stirred up a debate in the comment section.
The post garnered 13,000 reactions with 2,600 comments and 35,000 shares, as of this writing. Some commenters worried that the post might deceive other netizens, saying that some of the projects should not be credited to the Duterte administration. Others, however, responded that such statements were just born out of hate for the President.
This Facebook post is partly false, specifically it lacks context.
While the BBB program was shepherded by President Rodrigo Duterte, some of the projects referred to in the post were not part of the BBB. The construction of some of them preceded the Duterte administration. In particular, these projects include the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway, Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Bohol-Panglao International Airport and Cavite-Laguna Expressway.
1. Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX)
While President Duterte led the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) in March 2017, the 8.25-kilometer “third bridge” project was originally part of late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project.
On Oct. 20, 2014, SunStar Cebu reported that the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) proposed a P17-billion bridge connecting mainland Cebu and Cordova. The PPP project was filed under a joint venture agreement with the local government units of Cebu City and Cordova municipality.
Moreover, in 2016, the MPTC was granted a 35-year concession agreement that permitted them to manage the “financing, design, construction, implementation, operation, and maintenance” of the project. The partnership would run from 2015 (a year before Duterte assumed office) to 2050, respectively.
2. Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX)
The construction of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), officially inaugurated in July 2020, began on March 8, 2010 under the Arroyo administration, according to a Sunday Punch report.
In a press release issued by the Philippine Information Agency on Jan. 27, 2010, it was stated that former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led the groundbreaking ceremony for the TPLEX, the last project of her administration. The P16-billion toll road was funded by SMC TPLEX Corp. on a build-operate-transfer basis.
Additionally, the late President Aquino formally opened the Tarlac City-Gerona-Paniqui section of the expressway on Dec. 23, 2013, through an inaugural drive-through.
3. Mactan-Cebu International Airport
The formal inauguration of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) was led by President Duterte on June 7, 2018. It was then marketed as a part of the BBB program. However, the construction of the new MCIA terminal was another PPP project under the Aquino administration.
In 2014, the PPP initiative of Aquino secured the P14.4-billion advance payment from the consortium that led the expansion project at the said airport. Aquino also led the groundbreaking rites for the P32-billion construction project on June 29, 2015.
4. Bohol-Panglao International Airport
On Nov. 28, 2018, the Bohol-Panglao International Airport (BPIA) officially replaced the Tagbilaran Airport as President Rodrigo Duterte led its inauguration. However, the project was not originally part of the BBB program but was constructed during Aquino’s term.
According to the Department of Transportation, the earliest feasibility study conducted on the BPIA dated back to 2000. Meanwhile, a report from the Public-Private Partnership Center confirmed that the feasibility studies and engineering designs were completed in 2007, and bidding failed due to lack of funding in 2010. It was since entered as a PPP project.
It was under Aquino's term that the funding and construction of the airport commenced. On June 24, 2014, Manila Bulletin reported that six Japanese firms were vying for the P7.14-billion contract to construct the new airport on Panglao island in Bohol. Among the six, Chiyoda Corp. and Mitsubishi Corp. won the bidding. Construction began in 2015.
5. Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX)
The Cavite-Laguna Expressway was originally a part of Aquino’s PPP project. In a 2015 report, the P56-billion project was awarded to the highest bidder, Metro Pacific Investments Corp.'s MPCALA Holdings. Construction began in 2017.
References:
ABS-CBN News, “Metro Pacific submits top bid for CALAX project,” May 26, 2015
CNN Philippines, “Aquino breaks ground on P32B Cebu airport terminal project,” June 29, 2015
Department of Public Works and Highways, “Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway project (TPLEX),”
Department of Transportation, “Bohol-Panglao International Airport inaugurated, replaces Tagbilaran Airport,” Nov. 28, 2018
First Balfour, “Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX),”
Manila Bulletin, “6 Japanese groups bid for Bohol airport project,” June 10, 2014
Presidential Broadcast Staff-Radio Television Malacañang, “Groundbreaking Ceremony of Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX),” March 2, 2017
Public-Private Partnership Center, “Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX),”
Public-Private Partnership Center, “Cebu-Cordova Toll Bridge Project (Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway),”
Public-Private Partnership Center, “P14.4B upfront premium paid for airport project,” April 24, 2014
Public-Private Partnership Center, “Panglao airport ready by Aug ’18,” Nov. 9, 2017
Rappler, “[Analysis] 10 Build, Build, Build projects that started before Duterte,” June 23, 2021
Rappler, “Aquino thanks ‘idol’ Ramon Ang for TPLEX,” Dec. 23, 2013
Rappler, “Duterte inaugurates Bohol-Panglao International Airport,” Nov. 27, 2018
Sun Star Cebu, “Review on 3rd bridge almost done,” Oct. 20, 2014
Sunday Punch, “TPLEX breaks grounds,” March 8, 2010
Wheels PH (The Philippine Star), “TPLEX final section now open to vehicular traffic,” July 15, 2020
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