Infra spending declines

Government spending on infrastructure and other capital outlays decreased by P31.6 billion in July, as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) muted its disbursements due to delays in procurement activities and contractors’ incomplete submissions and billings.

- By MARCO LUIS BEECH

Based on the DBM’s latest disbursement performance report, infrastructure spending as of July amounted to P93.3 billion, down by 25.3 percent from P124.9 billion in the same period last year.

“The contraction resulted mainly from the muted disbursement performance of the DPWH, which was attributed to project implementation schedules, particularly the timing and phasing of various infrastructure activities,” the DBM said.