Infra spending jumped 70.5% in Aug

Government infrastructure spending jumped 70.5 percent year-on-year to P68.4 billion in August as more roads were built alongside purchases made by the military for communication equipment that month.

Expenditures on infrastructure and other capital outlays in August climbed from the P40.1 billion spent during the same month last year, the latest Department of Budget and Management data released Tuesday showed.

“This is mostly due to the road infrastructure program of the Department of Public Works and Highways (such as road widening of primary and secondary roads, construction of bypass and diversion roads, construction/repair/rehabilitation/improvement of local infrastructures, flood control and drainage improvement projects),” the DBM explained in a report.

Also, the Department of National Defense’s acquisition of military communication equipment under the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Modernization Program contributed to the higher infrastructure disbursements in August, the DBM added.

The amount spent on infrastructure in August, however, was lower than the P84.5 billion in July.

From January to August, spending on infrastructure and other capital outlays rose 49.8 percent to P505.6 billion from P337.6 billion in the first eight months of last year.

The P168-billion increase in eight-month infrastructure expenditures accounted for over a third of the P413.6-billion hike in total disbursements during the period, the DBM noted.

For the rest of the year, the government will spend some more on big-ticket infrastructure, as the DPWH-led Educational Facilities Fund will be implemented within the remaining four months, the DBM said.