The government’s infrastructure spending surged to P78.9 billion in May amid the implementation of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) projects nationwide, data released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) showed.
A report posted on the DBM website showed that expenditures for infrastructure and other capital outlays in May 2021 were more than twice May of last year’s outturn of P38.9 billion, or up by 102.5 percent.
“This is largely credited to the ongoing implementation of infrastructure projects of the DPWH nationwide such as construction, repair and rehabilitation of access, by-pass and diversion roads, bridges, and flood mitigation structures and drainage systems,” the DBM said.
“In contrast to May last year, construction activities were barely conducted amid the extended implementation of the enhanced community quarantine for most part of Luzon and key areas in the Visayas regions,” it added.
The agency said that similarly, payables in connection with the construction of the new senate building project contributed to the growth of infrastructure and other capital outlays.
In January to May, total infrastructure disbursements, which include the national government’s as well as the infrastructure components of subsidy and equity to government-owned and -controlled corporations and transfers to local government units, amounted to P332.3 billion.
The said figure is 41.3 percent higher than the P235.2 billion recorded a year ago.
