President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the government is accelerating public spending to support economic growth and employment after delays in infrastructure project implementation slowed spending.
In a media briefing to cap off his attendance at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India on Sunday, Marcos said government spending is expected to catch up within the next few months as project implementation picks up.
“We will be current in public spending in the next couple of months,” the President said.
Marcos attributed the slowdown in infrastructure spending to the inspection and review of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) contracts following his 2025 State of the Nation Address where he bared alleged anomalies in the public infrastructure program, particularly in flood control projects.
“DPWH wasn’t spending kasi walang bagong kontrata kasi tinitingnan lahat ng kontrata kasi marami-rami ‘yon. Na-delay ngayon. That’s what happened (DPWH wasn’t spending because there were no new contracts as all the contracts were being reviewed because there were quite a lot of them. They were delayed. That’s what happened),” Marcos said.
He said the reviews also disrupted the usual bidding process for government projects, further slowing implementation.
“This time wala na-bid. Na-delay nang na-delay nang na-delay (This time, there were no bids. They kept getting delayed),” Marcos said.
The President said the acceleration of government projects would help revive economic activity and create jobs, noting that the slowdown in public spending also contributed to higher unemployment.
He said efforts to speed up project implementation form part of broader government measures to keep the economy on a steady path amid continuing global uncertainties. (PNA)