Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan met with officials of the Makati Business Club (MBC) during a courtesy visit Monday, August 8, 2022 at the DPWH Central Office, Manila.
During the visit, MBC Vice Chair Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala congratulated Secretary Bonoan saying he is the right person for the job as they trust the DPWH Chief’s competence, vast experiences and expertise will bring tangible outcomes in resolving the various challenges facing the country’s infrastructure sector.
Among those present at the courtesy call are DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain and Undersecretary Maria Catalina E. Cabral; and MBC delegation of Cosette Canilao, Ruben Camba, Luis Franco, Anthony Fernandez, Ramoncito Fernandez, Eduardo Sahagun, Benjamin Yao, Vicente Lao, and Coco Alcuaz.
The business executives shared insights and key recommendations based on their prior focus group discussion with infrastructure players, and interview and survey with MBC members.
Key issues of the business group discussed at the one-hour meeting includes the new Build-Operate-Transfer IRR approved in April 2022, delays in approval and implementation stages of infrastructure flagship projects, right of way problems, infra related issues at the LGU level such as delayed approval and conflicting rules and requirements, construction materials prize index, and among others.
Secretary Bonoan hopes to strengthen relations with MBC as he affirmed his commitment to spearhead discussion of the reported concerns to the Cabinet infra cluster meeting and with the President.
Secretary Bonoan pointed out that the healthy relations of the government and business sector in the infrastructure buildup will play a key role in the government’s recovery measures geared toward bouncing back from the pandemic.