“As a student, I dreamed of a nation without roadblocks. I didn’t realize that 10 years after, I’d be part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Build, Build, Build team. And since July 2016, according to Secretary Mark Villar, DPWH has completed 29,264 kilometers of roads, and 5,950 bridges.” InfrastructureFilipinosBuild Build BuildDuterte Author:Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo , Night Owl: A Nationbuilder’s Manual
“People would often ask - what is Build, Build, Build? it is a springboard, a chance to turn a dream of connecting Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao into a reality. It means connecting 81 provinces, 146 cities, and 1,489 municipalities.” InfrastructureFilipinosBuild Build Build Author:Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo , Night Owl: A Nationbuilder’s Manual
“This is the first time in Philippine history that expressways operated by different concessionaires — as in this case, San Miguel Corporation and Metro Pacific — will interconnect. And who are the biggest victors of this arrangement? The Filipino people.” InfrastructureFilipinosBuild Build Build Author:Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo , Night Owl: A Nationbuilder’s Manual
“Back in 2016, when Build, Build, Build was just starting, a lot of people had doubts. One friend looked me in the eye and said, “This was another campaign promise meant to be broken.” We were likened to ardent suitors prepared to say anything. We could not blame them. At that time, it did seem impossible. Traffic in Metro Manila was costing us ₱3.5 billion a day. EDSA has exceeded its capacity by over a hundred thousand vehicles. Government projects were delayed for years — with some projects implemented only after several decades. But while we were all very familiar with this reality, it was not a reality we were prepared to accept. The Philippines was far from its full potential. To many of us, it was a chance to realize a dream. It was a chance to shape history and usher in the Golden Age of Infrastructure.” InfrastructureFilipinosBuild Build Build Author:Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo , Night Owl: A Nationbuilder’s Manual
“When the construction of Skyway Stage 3 started, I was a freshman at law school. Almost every day, I’d pass by the same alignment which, if completed, would cut travel time from North Luzon Expressway to South Luzon Expressway from 2.5 hours to only 30 minutes. At the time, I was still working for United Nations and our Manila Office was located at the RCBC Plaza on HV dela Costa on Ayala Avenue. There were many days I hoped they’d fast-track the construction. The promise of reduced travel time from Makati to QC meant more time to study, dine, shower, or sleep. Little did I know that I’d be part of the project about two years later.” InfrastructureFilipinosBuild Build Build Author:Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo , Night Owl: A Nationbuilder’s Manual
“Critics have said it cannot be done and yet the output of 6.5 million workers involved in the Build, Build, Build program has proved them wrong. Another misconception was that most projects are only situated in Metro Manila or are operated under the modality of public private partnership. This is far from the truth. In fact, less than five percent of the Build, Build, Build projects charge toll or operate under a concession agreement.” InfrastructureFilipinosBuild Build Build Author:Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo , Night Owl: A Nationbuilder’s Manual
“If you are in any way part of Build, Build, Build, be strong and steadfast. The truth will not change only because alternate realities are repeated, or that facts are often ignored. The attacks will be more vicious and it will be at a rate that we have never seen before. Do not be disheartened. There is work to be done still. While we are already able to complete 29,264 kilometers of roads, 15,134 kilometers are still ongoing. While we have already built 5,950 bridges, we still have 1,859 bridges to build.” BridgesInfrastructureFilipinosBuild Build Build Author:Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo , Night Owl: A Nationbuilder’s Manual
“We must come to the table knowing that there is no barangay, city, province, government, or country that can solve the COVID-19 crisis alone. More than ever, human collectivism is key. We have prepared for wars even before they happened. Maybe this time, we ought to work together, collectively and purposively, regardless of race, ethnicity, political affiliation, and religion, in finding a solution to a threat that has shaken our very definition of civilization.” Covid 19InfrastructureFilipinos Author:Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo , Night Owl: A Nationbuilder’s Manual
“To effectively usher in the Golden Age of Infrastructure, the Duterte Administration created Build, Build, Build, a medium-term development strategy, which aimed to mobilize the largest work force in Philippine history to implement an infrastructure plan consistent with the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity.” InfrastructureBuild Build BuildDuterte Author:Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo , Night Owl: A Nationbuilder’s Manual
“Back in 2016, no one knew what Build, Build, Build meant or what it stood for. Critics had very little expectation of the team. They wagered against our success, not knowing that when they did, they gambled against the future of their country. They were certain that the infrastructure projects would never materialize — that blueprints would remain as drawings. They didn’t expect 6.5 million Filipinos to stand and work behind it.” InfrastructureFilipinoBuild Build Build Author:Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo , Night Owl: A Nationbuilder’s Manual