Infra spending jumped 45% in January

As of January, expenditures for infrastructure and other capital outlay surged to P23.8 billion, a P7.4-billion or 45.1-percent increase from the P16.4 billion recorded in the same month last year. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Public spending on infrastructure rose by nearly half in January as the government financed reconstruction efforts in areas affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda, documents released on Thursday showed.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) noted that government disbursements accelerated in January despite the absence of election-related spending after last year’s mid-term polls.

“What’s particularly notable is that we were able to ramp up expenditures to levels that would have been expected of election season, and we’re definitely a good way off from that,” Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said.

As of January, expenditures for infrastructure and other capital outlay surged to P23.8 billion, a P7.4-billion or 45.1-percent increase from the P16.4 billion recorded in the same month last year.

Overall, total national government expenditures likewise registered a P25.1-billion, or 15.9-percent, increase to P183 billion from P157.9 billion in January 2013.

“Front-loading of expenditures in the first semester fits very well with our goal of sustaining the country’s growth trajectory this year,” Abad said.

The DBM said spending for infrastructure and other capital outlay was buoyed by the various projects of the departments of public works and highways and of transportation and communications as well as the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the Department of Health (DOH).