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BUDGET authorities have ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to submit a catch-up plan after infrastructure spending slowed due to a corruption scandal.
“We are waiting for the submission [of the plan]. And we will see what's the component of the submission,” Budget Undersecretary Rolando Toledo said during a Manila Times economic forum on Friday.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has said that infrastructure spending could further slow with the DPWH having been told to evaluate and validate the status of and also enforce stricter verification of payment claims.
A two-week pause of bidding and procurement for local projects — ordered in the wake of the flood control project scandal — was lifted last month in a bid to address delays and boost infrastructure spending.
Government infrastructure spending remained muted as of end-August, slowing by 5.6 percent to P798.4 billion from P845.3 billion a year earlier.
“Infrastructure spending was lower pending settlement of progress billings and completed infrastructure projects of the DPWH due to the ongoing validation and audit amid corruption issues,” the DBM said.
Zero-tolerance policy
Toledo told the Manila Times forum that in implementing the budget, “we will reaffirm our zero-tolerance policy against corruption.”
“We are harnessing digital technology to strengthen oversight, promote transparency, and safeguard the integrity of public spending,” he added.
The Digital Information for Monitoring and Evaluation project, in particular, would help monitor the status and progress of projects nationwide through satellite and geotagging technology.
“By integrating these tools into our monitoring system, we strengthen oversight, ensure that funds are properly utilized, and make project information such as locations, funding sources, and completion rates accessible for public scrutiny,” Toledo said.
“We are closing the doors to corruption in public procurement through the landmark New Government Procurement Act, the NGPA, which enshrines mechanisms that promote integrity and accountability at every stage of the process,” he added.
This includes open contracting, which requires public disclosure of procurement data for transparency and beneficial ownership disclosure to avoid conflicts of interest.
It also covers participatory procurement where citizens and civil society can monitor and report irregularities, Toledo said, and the integration of sustainability principles to ensure that public spending supports social responsibility and environmental protection.
“Building on this commitment to transparency and accountability, we continue to strengthen the city's engagement in governance,” the Budget official said.
“After all, the budget belongs to the people, which is why we value their participation in every stage of the budget process,” he added.
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Credit belongs to : www.manilatimes.net/