Manila: Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian has emphasized that efforts to accelerate government infrastructure spending in the latter half of the year must not undermine existing safeguards designed to prevent questionable projects and the wastage of public funds. In a statement released on Friday, Gatchalian stressed the importance of maintaining strict oversight over government infrastructure expenditures.

According to Philippines News Agency, government infrastructure disbursements have seen a significant decrease of 42.9 percent, dropping to PHP269.4 billion from January to May, compared to PHP471.5 billion during the same period last year. This decline is attributed to tighter review, audit, and validation procedures, which have delayed payments for certain projects, particularly those under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) previously noted that these stricter procedures were implemented to reinforce safeguards on public spending, despite affecting the timing of disbursements. Gatchalian has assured that the Senate will continue to monitor agencies as they strive to catch up on infrastructure implementation, emphasizing that accelerated spending must result in projects that provide tangible economic benefits.

He underscored the role of infrastructure spending as a crucial driver of economic growth and job creation, committing to ensure that public works funds lead to real economic gains and are free from the inefficiencies that have marred past projects. The government had initially set a target of approximately PHP1.3 trillion in infrastructure spending for 2026, representing around 4.3 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). The approved 2026 national budget allocates PHP1.289 trillion for public sector infrastructure.

Recent fiscal projections from the DBM, however, indicate a more cautious approach, estimating this year's infrastructure spending at around PHP1.27 trillion, or 4.2 percent of GDP, due to continued scrutiny of public works projects. Gatchalian, who formerly chaired the Senate Committee on Finance, has driven reforms in the 2026 budget to ensure key budget documents are made publicly available in accessible formats, enhancing transparency and traceability for the public.