DBM Press Release
Gov’t eyes Q3 rebound in public construction while strengthening scrutiny, accountability over infra projects
The Marcos Administration will move faster in implementing infrastructure projects while strengthening safeguards over public funds, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Acting Secretary Kim Robert C. De Leon said, as the government works to support a rebound in public construction beginning in the third quarter.
De Leon stressed that accelerating infrastructure spending does not mean loosening government controls. Instead, the DBM is pushing for faster procurement and implementation alongside stronger project scrutiny and accountability mechanisms to ensure that public funds translate into actual projects and tangible benefits for Filipinos.
“No. We are not proposing any relaxation of safeguards. In fact, we want more safeguards,” Secretary De Leon said when asked whether controls on the audit and validation of infrastructure projects would be eased to speed up government spending.
The Budget Chief explained that the immediate challenge is to address delays in the procurement, awarding, and implementation of already-funded infrastructure projects—not to weaken the rules governing them.
“What we are looking at is how we can hasten implementation and procurement. The issue is not the safeguards. We need to implement. We have to start implementing,” he stressed.
According to De Leon, the government’s economic managers are working toward a recovery in infrastructure activity beginning in the third quarter. The DBM has already made available the allotments needed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to move forward with its projects.
“We have made available to the DPWH the allotments they need to implement the projects. We hope they will be able to start implementing the projects this August and September so that we can see better figures by the third quarter,” he added.
Safeguards start before projects enter the budget
The DBM emphasized that accountability does not begin only when government funds are released. Safeguards are already built into the budget preparation process to ensure that infrastructure projects proposed for funding are necessary, ready for implementation, aligned with development priorities, and capable of delivering results.
For the proposed FY 2027 National Budget, agencies were required to demonstrate the alignment of their programs and projects with the Philippine Development Plan and the Administration’s priorities. The DBM likewise considered implementation readiness and project maturity, absorptive capacity and previous budget utilization, implementation performance, expected outcomes, and value to the Filipino people in determining funding priorities.
Infrastructure proposals must also be supported by the necessary technical and implementation requirements, including appropriate project documentation, procurement and implementation schedules, and clearly defined milestones.
For programs and projects intended for implementation in the regions, the budget preparation process likewise requires the endorsement of the concerned Regional Development Councils (RDCs), helping ensure that proposed investments are responsive to regional priorities and have undergone coordination among national government agencies, local government units, and other regional stakeholders.
The DBM Chief, in his previous engagements, always highlighted that speed and accountability must go together. According to him, while we want projects to move faster, they must be the right projects, in the right places, and implemented in accordance with existing budgeting, procurement, accounting, and auditing rules.
P1.467 trillion for infrastructure in 2027
Under the proposed FY 2027 National Budget, P1.467 trillion is earmarked for infrastructure development, equivalent to 4.4 percent of gross domestic product and P178.0 billion, or 13.8 percent, higher than the FY 2026 level.
Of this amount, P643.95 billion is proposed for the DPWH, up by P113.05 billion or 21.29 percent from its P530.90-billion budget under the FY 2026 General Appropriations Act.
The higher infrastructure investment is expected to support economic activity by generating jobs, creating demand across local industries, improving connectivity and mobility, and expanding the country’s productive capacity.
De Leon stressed, however, that higher allocations alone are not enough. What matters is how quickly and properly these resources are translated into infrastructure that people can actually use.
The DBM underscored that the objective is not simply to spend more or spend faster, but to ensure that appropriated funds are translated into well-planned, properly implemented, and beneficial infrastructure projects. This means removing avoidable implementation bottlenecks without compromising the budgeting, procurement, accounting, and auditing safeguards designed to protect every public peso.
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FILIPINO VERSION
NEWS MATERIAL
Department Budget and Management
27 August 2026
DBM: Walang trade-off sa mas mabilis na pagpapatupad ng infrastructure projects at mas mahigpit na safeguards
Gobyerno, target ang pagbangon ng public construction sa Q3 habang pinalalakas ang pagsusuri at pananagutan sa mga infrastructure project
Mas mabilis na ipatutupad ng Marcos Administration ang mga infrastructure project habang pinapalakas naman ang mga safeguards para maprotektahan ang pondo ng bayan, ayon kay Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Acting Secretary Kim Robert C. De Leon. Bahagi ito ng hakbang ng gobyerno para suportahan ang pagbangon ng public construction simula sa ikatlong quarter.
Binigyang-diin ni De Leon na ang pagpapabilis ng paggastos para sa infrastructure ay hindi nangangahulugang luluwagan ang mga kontrol ng gobyerno. Sa halip, isinusulong ng DBM ang mas mabilis na procurement at implementation kasabay ng mas mahigpit na pagsusuri sa mga proyekto at mga mekanismo para sa pananagutan. Layunin nitong matiyak na ang pondo ng bayan ay napupunta sa aktuwal na mga proyekto at nagdudulot ng konkretong benepisyo sa mga Pilipino.
“No. We are not proposing any relaxation of safeguards. In fact, we want more safeguards,” sabi ni Secretary De Leon nang tanungin kung luluwagan ba ang mga kontrol sa audit at validation ng mga infrastructure project para mapabilis ang paggastos ng gobyerno.
Ipinaliwanag ng Budget Chief na ang agarang hamon ay ang pagtugon sa mga delay sa procurement, awarding, at implementation ng mga infrastructure project na may nakalaan nang pondo—hindi ang pagpapahina sa mga patakarang namamahala sa mga ito.
“What we are looking at is how we can hasten implementation and procurement. The issue is not the safeguards. We need to implement. We have to start implementing,” diin niya.
Ayon kay De Leon, nagtutulungan ang mga economic manager ng gobyerno para makamit ang pagbangon ng infrastructure activity simula sa ikatlong quarter. Naibigay na rin ng DBM sa Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) ang mga kinakailangang allotment para maipagpatuloy ang mga proyekto nito.
“We have made available to the DPWH the allotments they need to implement the projects. We hope they will be able to start implementing the projects this August and September so that we can see better figures by the third quarter,” dagdag niya.
Ang safeguards ay nagsisimula bago pa mapasama ang mga proyekto sa budget
Binigyang-diin ng DBM na hindi lamang nagsisimula ang pananagutan kapag nailabas na ang pondo ng gobyerno. May mga safeguards na nakapaloob na sa proseso ng paghahanda ng budget para matiyak na ang mga infrastructure project na hinihingan ng pondo ay kinakailangan, handa nang ipatupad, tugma sa mga development priority, at may kakayahang maghatid ng resulta.
Para sa proposed FY 2027 National Budget, kailangang maipakita ng mga ahensya na nakaayon ang kanilang mga programa at proyekto sa Philippine Development Plan at sa mga prayoridad ng Administrasyon. Isinaalang-alang din ng DBM ang kahandaan at maturity ng proyekto, absorptive capacity at dating paggamit ng budget, performance sa implementation, inaasahang resulta, at pakinabang nito sa mga Pilipino sa pagtukoy ng mga prayoridad sa pagpopondo.
Kailangan ding suportahan ang mga infrastructure proposal ng mga kinakailangang technical at implementation requirement, kabilang ang tamang project documentation, procurement at implementation schedules, at malinaw na mga milestone.
Para naman sa mga programa at proyektong ipatutupad sa mga rehiyon, kailangan din sa proseso ng paghahanda ng budget ang endorsement ng mga kinauukulang Regional Development Council (RDC). Nakakatulong ito para matiyak na tumutugon ang mga iminungkahing investment sa mga prayoridad ng rehiyon at dumaan sa koordinasyon ng mga national government agency, local government unit, at iba pang regional stakeholder.
Sa mga nauna niyang pakikipagpulong, palaging binibigyang-diin ng DBM Chief na kailangang magkasabay ang bilis at pananagutan. Ayon sa kanya, bagama’t kailangang mas mapabilis ang mga proyekto, dapat tiyakin na ito ang tamang proyekto, nasa tamang lugar, at ipinatutupad alinsunod sa umiiral na mga patakaran sa budgeting, procurement, accounting, at auditing.
P1.467 trilyon para sa infrastructure sa 2027
Sa proposed FY 2027 National Budget, P1.467 trilyon ang nakalaan para sa infrastructure development. Katumbas ito ng 4.4 porsyento ng gross domestic product at P178.0 bilyon, o 13.8 porsyento, na mas mataas kumpara sa FY 2026 level.
Sa halagang ito, P643.95 bilyon ang iminungkahi para sa DPWH—P113.05 bilyon o 21.29 porsyento na mas mataas kaysa sa P530.90-bilyong budget nito sa ilalim ng FY 2026 General Appropriations Act.
Inaasahang susuporta ang mas malaking investment sa infrastructure sa economic activity sa pamamagitan ng paglikha ng trabaho, pagpapalakas ng demand sa mga lokal na industriya, pagpapabuti ng connectivity at mobility, at pagpapalawak ng productive capacity ng bansa.
Gayunman, iginiit ni De Leon na hindi sapat ang mas mataas na budget allocation lamang. Ang mahalaga ay kung gaano kabilis at kahusay maisasalin ang mga pondong ito tungo sa mga infrastructure na aktuwal na magagamit ng mga tao.
Binigyang-diin ng DBM na ang layunin ay hindi lamang gumastos nang mas malaki o mas mabilis, kundi tiyaking ang mga pondong inilaan ay napupunta sa mga infrastructure project na maayos na naplano, wastong naipatupad, at kapaki-pakinabang. Ibig sabihin, kailangang alisin ang mga maiiwasang hadlang sa implementation nang hindi isinasakripisyo ang mga safeguards sa budgeting, procurement, accounting, at auditing na idinisenyo para maprotektahan ang bawat pisong pera ng bayan.
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