MANILA, Philippines — Architect and urban planner Jun Palafox warned that corruption and incompetence continue to undermine the implementation of sound urban and infrastructure plans in the country.
In an interview on Bilyonaryo News Channel’s “The Spokes,” Palafox said many well-designed projects fail not lack of expertise, but because qualified professionals are often bypassed in favor of less capable firms due to political and institutional issues.
He cited instances where his firm submitted bids significantly lower than competitors but still lost to less qualified groups, calling it a clear sign of corruption in the system.
Palafox stressed that the impact becomes more critical when it involves disaster mitigation projects, where delays and poor execution could lead to loss of lives.
“Corruption kills,” he said, noting that flooding incidents could have been minimized through proper river dredging and rainwater harvesting measures.
He also flagged alleged “ghost projects” in the government’s flood control program, describing them as a serious misuse of public funds meant to protect communities.
The urban planner urged the government to prioritize preventive measures rather than reactive responses, emphasizing that investing in disaster risk reduction is far more cost-effective.
“It is 90 percent less expensive to address hazards before they become disasters,” Palafox said, underscoring the need to safeguard lives, infrastructure, and agriculture.
Palafox likewise criticized the country’s planning approach, saying it is often driven by political and electoral cycles instead of long-term development goals.
He noted that sustainable planning should go beyond short-term agendas, adding that his firm adopts a comprehensive strategy covering immediate, short-, medium-, and long-term plans—extending up to 2050 and even 2100. #
Source: BILYONARYO
