Gov't infra spending rises to P1.5 T

The government ramped up its infrastructure spending last year, hitting P1.5 trillion and effectively surpassing its programmed allocation on the back of faster disbursements for major transport and road projects, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

- By LOUISE MAUREEN SIMEON

Based on the latest national government disbursement performance report of the DBM, infrastructure disbursements picked up by nearly 10 percent to reach P1.545 trillion last year from P1.42 trillion in 2023.

Apart from capital outlays, total infrastructure disbursements last year included components of subsidy and equity to state-run corporations and transfers to local government units relating to infrastructure.

Infrastructure expenditures accounted for about 26 percent of the record P5.75 trillion government disbursements in 2024.

Similarly, last year's infrastructure spending surpassed the P1.47 trillion program by P72.4 billion or almost five percent due to the faster disbursements of some agencies, particularly the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).