PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the fast-tracking of 1,743 infrastructure projects meant to sustain economic momentum, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said over the weekend.
In a statement, Acting Budget Secretary Rolando Toledo said the release of P46.22 billion to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was approved in compliance with Marcos’ directive for “road connectivity, improving mobility and unlocking economic opportunities across communities.” Among the major projects funded was the Davao City Bypass Construction Project, with an approved allocation of P288.371 million for fiscal year 2026.
The release also covers critical initiatives under the DPWH’s Asset Preservation Program, including preventive maintenance of national roads, as well as the rehabilitation and reconstruction of road networks.
It likewise supports the Network Development Program, which includes road widening and off-carriageway improvements, and the Bridge Program, which focuses on the repair, retrofitting, strengthening and widening of permanent bridges.
Toledo said that the funding reflects the administration’s firm commitment to ensuring that vital infrastructure projects are implemented without delay.
“When the documents are complete and in order, we will not hesitate to release the funds. Because every day that the project is delayed, there is a countryman who has not benefited — and that is what we do not want to happen,” he said.
According to DPWH, the projects funded have been thoroughly evaluated and are aligned with the president’s priorities for infrastructure development and the advancement of socioeconomic growth.
On April 15, the DBM approved the issuance of 158 Special Allotment Release Orders as funding for the projects.
