Manila: Senator Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito on Wednesday urged the government to continue infrastructure rollout to boost the economy and create more jobs. In a news release, Ejercito emphasized the importance of maintaining infrastructure spending, despite the ongoing flood control corruption scandal.

According to Philippines News Agency, Ejercito highlighted a significant drop in infrastructure spending, citing data from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). The figures show a 43 percent decline, from PHP137.1 billion in the third quarter of 2024 to PHP78.7 billion in the same period this year. He stressed the necessity of keeping infrastructure projects on track while implementing clearer safeguards to address the issues raised by the flood control controversy.

Ejercito remarked on the economic impact of infrastructure investment, stating, "Every peso invested in infrastructure generates PHP2.4 to PHP3 in economic activity, and as a policy maker, we cannot ignore it. But we will not stop the issue on flood control if we want to revive economic momentum, attract investments, and create jobs. We must continue building."

He expressed support for the Department of Public Works and Highways' (DPWH) catch-up plan, which aims to accelerate construction from the last quarter of this year into early next year, thereby boosting infrastructure spending. Ejercito conveyed optimism, saying, "Hopefully, makahabol tayo (we can catch up). From this time until January, we need to implement the catch-up plan para maka-recover tayo sa spending at magtuloy ang economic activity (so we can recover on spending and continue our economy activity)."

Additionally, Ejercito reiterated the importance of reallocating savings from flood control projects to other high-impact infrastructure initiatives, such as airports, seaports, and classrooms, which he believes could have substantial multiplier effects on the economy. He also stressed the need to protect businesses involved in government projects, ensuring that legitimate contractors can earn a reasonable profit without interference from corrupt officials.