Infra spending jumps to P113 billion in 2 months

MANILA, Philippines — The government ramped up its infrastructure spending from January to February by nearly 40 percent to reach P113 billion on higher disbursements for rail projects, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said.

Based on the latest national government disbursement performance report of the DBM, state infrastructure expenditure and other capital outlays went up  by 36 percent to P113 billion in the first two months of the year, from P83 billion in the same period last year.

The DBM said the infrastructure spending performance for the two-month period was attributed to the higher disbursements recorded by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

For DPWH, this was due to the payment of mobilization costs for regular infrastructure projects, expedited implementation of carryover projects, and fast tracked processing and payment of prior years’ accounts payable.

These included various projects implemented nationwide such as the construction, rehabilitation, and preventive maintenance of access, by-pass and diversion roads, and bridges, flood mitigation activities, and succeeding progress billings for the construction of the new Senate building and other government buildings.

On the other hand, the DOTr made direct payments to development partners for foreign-assisted rail transport projects including the North-South Commuter Railway Project and the first phase of the Metro Manila Subway Project.

Meanwhile, overall government spending for the two-month period reached P620.7 billion, barely moving from the P619.7 billion from a year ago.

Apart from infrastructure, the government only recorded higher maintenance and other operating expenses to P84.9 billion due to assistance and subsidies.