Infrastructure spending surged in 2017 to beat the government’s target as work led by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) picked up, the Budget chief said, placing the country on track with its aggressive spending push.

Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said the government spent P568.8 billion for infrastructure last year, jumping by 15.4% from the P493 billion released in 2016. The figure likewise shot beyond the P549.4 billion programmed under the 2017 budget.

Mr. Diokno said this placed infrastructure investments for the year at roughly 5.6% of gross domestic product (GDP), higher than the planned 5.4% share and from the previous year’s 5.1%.

In a report, the Budget department attributed the spending surge to the “acceleration” of infrastructure projects implemented by the DPWH.

“The agency also cited the prompt and regular submission of progress billings from contractors; faster and simplified process of approval of plans and programs; and strict implementation of project planning, monitoring and scheduling as among the factors which resulted to their higher-than-programmed disbursements,” the report read. — Melissa Luz T. Lopez

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