Construction recovery from lockdown may take 1-2 months: Megawide

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/business/04/14/20190905-bridgetown-inauguration-jc-1979.jpg"/><figcaption>Construction continues even at the inauguration of Robinsons Land Corp’s first township, Bridgetowne, on September 4, 2019. The township includes a bridge that connects Quezon City and Pasig that is seen to help ease traffic congestion.<em> Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - <strong>(UPDATE) </strong>Construction in the Philippines will take 1 to 2 months to fully recover from the coronavirus lockdown that shut most businesses and required people to stay at home, builder Megawide said Tuesday.</p><p>It will take time for laborers from the provinces to return, while logistical issues over materials and supplies will likely persist, said Megawide chairman and CEO Edgar Saavedra.</p><p>&quot;We expect a reduction in productivity because of the stringent health and safety guidelines,&quot; Saavedra told ANC.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z3_ReDKRATs?enablejsapi=1"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/14/20/philippines-looks-to-restart-economy-under-new-normal-from-covid-19">Philippines looks to restart economy under &#x27;new normal&#x27; from COVID-19</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/business/04/14/20/virus-lockdowns-cut-work-hours-of-195-million-worldwide-ilo">Virus lockdowns cut work hours of 195 million worldwide: ILO</a></li></ul><p>Saavedra said the faster rollout of government-funded infrastructure projects could help stimulate the economy. </p><p>Three major railway projects in Luzon are worth around P1 trillion: the North and the South Luzon railway projects and the Mega Manila Subway, he said.</p><p>Private sector projects, especially in real estate, will depend on the country&#x27;s employment situation after the lockdown, he said. There is still a lot of uncertainty on when people will be able to get back to to work, he said.</p><p>&quot;The earlier that they can get back their jobs the earlier we (construction industry) can recover.&quot;</p><p>Megawide&#x27;s clients, such as 8990, Double Dragon and Megaworld, however told the construction firm to proceed and complete the construction of their projects, he said.</p><p>The company has paused construction on 34 projects in Metro Manila and Cebu because of the lockdown, he said.</p><p>Megawide is ready to turn over the new Clark International Airport terminal to the government once the lockdown is lifted, he said, adding 96 percent of the facility is finished. <br/> </p>

<p>Construction in the Philippines will take 1 to 2 months to fully recover from the coronavirus lockdown that shut most businesses and required people to stay at home, builder Megawide said Tuesday. </p>

Construction in the Philippines will take 1 to 2 months to fully recover from the coronavirus lockdown that shut most businesses and required people to stay at home, builder Megawide said Tuesday.