MANILA, Philippines — The “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) program of the Duterte administration is not a failure but it can do better.

This is from the point of view of Presidential Adviser on Flagship Projects and Bases Conversion Development Authority chief Vivencio Dizon in response to Senator Frank Drilon’s insinuation Duterte’s BBB is but a “dismal failure.”

Dizon said the administration had spent nearly P1 trillion on infrastructures to boost the economy despite the government’s revision of its initial list of 75 flagship projects under the BBB program, on which some were revised following studies that showed some projects were impractical.

“Is Build, Build, Build a failure? Absolutely not and the numbers speak for themselves,” Dizon said in a press briefing at Malacañang. “Are we happy with the progress? We could do better and we admit that.”

Now, he said, the new list of flagship projects covers one hundred. But he also said the P8-trillion BBB program included thousands of other non-listed projects, and some were already underway or completed.

The list of flagship projects is “evolving,” Dizon said.

On Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon described the BBB program as a “dismal failure” because only nine out of the initial 75 flagship projects had begun building halfway through the term of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Dizon acknowledged that the administration had listed a number of incorrect projects, hence the revision. (Chris Figueroa/IAMIGO/CNS)