No loans needed: Think tank says ditch infra projects for virus response

IBON Foundation's Sonny Africa says the government has at least P975 billion of infrastructure projects for 2020, and a quarter of those may be discontinued to fund the pandemic response. COVID19PH

PANDEMIC. Barangay volunteers prepare relief goods to be distributed to Parañaque City residents. Photo by Inoue Jaena/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – The government is set to borrow billions to fund the battle against the coronavirus, but a think tank said President Rodrigo Duterte just needs to ditch some infrastructure projects and get funds from there.interview that Duterte has at least P975 billion worth of infrastructure projects in the 2020 General Appropriations Act, excluding unspent funds in 2019. At least one-fourth can be discontinued, according to Africa.

"Maraming infrastructure projects ay hindi na magiging viable, hindi lang dahil sa lockdown, kundi dahil na rin sa pandemic,"Africa argued that feasibility studies for some infrastructure projects, particularly those geared towards promoting tourism, were done before the pandemic and may no longer give back intended returns.

Africa said the National Economic and Development Authority now has to quickly and carefully choose which projects to discontinue.P14.97-billion Pasacao-Balatan Coastal Tourism Highway in Camarines Sur. The 40-kilometer highway was approved by the NEDA Board in October 2019.monthly to support millions of poor families affected by the lockdown.

Africa cautioned against loans from multilateral lenders like the World Bank for its interest rates and history of pushing for privatization of health care in the country, which has supposedly led to the health sector's problems today.

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