ANGELES CITY – In what it considers as the better alternative for the benefit of the people, the advocacy group Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement is now pushing for “Live, Live, Live “instead of “Build, Build, Build” and prevent what it said is “Kill, Kill, Kill.”
On Tuesday, the PGKM said the Department of Transportation will be better off if the P50 billion cost of the Subic-Clark Railway Project (SCRP) under its Build, Build, Build Program will instead be spent for purchasing more vaccines or giving financial aid to the people as Filipinos fight to survive the lockdowns amidst the raging pandemic and call it Live, Live, Live Program.
Rupert Cruz, PGM chair, said Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade might even make it to the Senate, along with his peers in the administration, if he does the ultimate sacrifice for the benefit of the people. “As it is, he stands no chance of winning a senate seat especially now that his insensitivity is underscored,” Cruz said.
The PGKM vehemently opposes the alignment of the multi-billion SCRP calling the project redundant among others. Cruz said a freight railway, at this time is unnecessary. It costs billions of pesos when the money could very well be spent to buy vaccines and use for financial aid as thousands lost their livelihoods, he said.
“Why is it now that there is a pandemic that the government is insisting on this project? Cruz asked.
“The shortest distance between Subic and Clark is the alignment of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), why realigned the SCRP to populated areas that will affect developed and ongoing development? Cruz asked.
The project will “kill, kill, kill” the established commercial enterprises, residential areas, even the developments such as mix-use townships and business centers already planned in the areas the railway alignment will traverse, Cruz said, adding “Tugade’s purpose in changing the alignment is questionable.” .
The PGKM chair noted that President Duterte himself had said that we have no more money.
“I cannot give food anymore and money to people,” said Duterte in published reports on Monday as more lockdowns are set to fight the new strain of Covid-19, the Delta variant.
The President said on Sunday: “Ngayon, magsabi kayo i-lockdown mo na ang Maynila, ang ibang lugar, the entire Philippines para talaga wala nang mahawa…. Problem is wala na tayong pera.”
“There is money if the government can pursue a Live, Live, Live Program instead of the Build, Build, Build Program instead, Cruz said. “The time to use this is now. Or else, aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo?”
