DPWH chief: Re-enacted budget to adversely affect projects

MANILA, Philippines — Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar yesterday admitted that a re-enacted budget would adversely affect the implementation of their projects this year. 

“If there is no budget (for 2019) we could expect that this would affect the disbursement of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) especially for the first quarter because (we can only obligate once the budget is passed). Even then it would still have to go through a process and it could not be (implemented) immediately,” Villar said in an interview with The Chiefs on Cignal TV’s One News.

He added that while there are ongoing projects, those identified for 2019 could not be implemented immediately.

“Until the budget comes out we have to be conservative in our spending,” Villar said.

From the DPWH’s proposed P480 billion this year, the agency’s budget ballooned to P550 billion after adjustment by the Department of Budget and Management. 

A total of P119 billion is reportedly allocated for flood control projects.

Villar said he was disappointed that they are unable to take advantage of the dry season to work on new projects because the budget has yet to be finalized.

“There will be an effect (on the Build, Build, Build projects) but we will try our best that this would not sidetrack the projects of the President,” Villar said.

Villar added that he hoped the impasse would be resolved.

As this developed, Sen. Ralph Recto yesterday called for a compromise so that the Senate and the House of Representatives would be able to pass the P3.757-trillion 2019 national budget.

Recto said he is hoping that senators and House members will iron out the differences in their institutional and individual insertions.

“I am hoping that we could pass the budget for next year,” Recto said in an interview over dwIZ. “We should ratify the budget by Wednesday.” – With Cecille Suerte Felipe