PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered concerned agencies to fast-track the implementation of priority projects that would have a "multiplier effect" on the Philippine economy, Malacañang said Friday.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto met with key government agencies in Malacañang on Thursday to assess progress of the administration's big-ticket programs.
In a statement, Recto said that government allocation releases have reached P1.287 in the second quarter of 2026, and "it is a must that the social good that this will fund be enjoyed by the people soonest." He reiterated the president's directive "to speed up the projects and programs that will have the highest multiplier effect, create jobs, battle inflation, with focus on food security." “The president’s order is to fast-track priority programs to push economic growth against global headwinds,” Recto said.
"There are spots of underspending and these must be resolved immediately," he added. The meeting was attended by officials of the Department of Budget and Management, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Transportation, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Education.
During the meeting, Recto stressed the urgency of addressing budget utilization issues to narrow the gap between disbursements and releases for key government projects.
Department officials said new procurement rules that expedite project acquisition should be maximized to cut delivery delays.
"There is a way that we can speed up the process without taking legal shortcuts. Red tape that causes paralysis without sacrificing transparency can be done away with," Recto said.
To address economic disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict, which saw oil prices spike, the government packaged a multi-agency response called Uplift or the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food and Transport.
The Uplift agenda protects households, support vulnerable sectors, and ensure adequate energy supply and affordable food for all Filipinos.
"Overall, government spending, which impacts GDP report card, is necessary to pump prime the economy," Recto said.
