SENATE President Sherwin Gatchalian said Friday that the Senate will continue to exercise strict oversight of the government’s infrastructure spending.
This comes after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) reported that the government remains on track to meet its P1.3-trillion infrastructure spending target for 2026, despite a significant decline in public works disbursements during the first five months of the year.
“This highlights the need for stricter scrutiny of government infrastructure spending. The Senate will continue to uphold the transparency and accountability measures we embedded in the budget,” Gatchalian said.
DBM data showed that infrastructure spending fell by 42.9 percent to P269.4 billion from January to May, compared with P471.5 billion during the same period last year.
The decline was attributed to the government’s stricter review of infrastructure projects, which has resulted in tighter controls over the release and implementation of public works funds.
Gatchalian said the slowdown should not compromise the government’s infrastructure goals but should instead reinforce the need to ensure that projects are properly planned, implemented, and monitored before public funds are released.
“Infrastructure spending is a key driver of economic growth and job creation. We will ensure that public works funds translate into real economic gains, free from the leakages that have plagued past projects,” he said.
Gatchalian has been a proponent of measures aimed at strengthening the budget process, improving fiscal transparency, and ensuring greater accountability in the use of government funds.
