Infrastructure spending declines by 28% in April

State spending on infrastructure slumped in April due to the election ban on disbursements for public works projects, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said.

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In its latest disbursement report on Tuesday, the DBM reported that spending on infrastructure and other capital outlays declined by 27.8% to P85.8 billion in April from P118.9 billion in the same month last year.

"This was due mostly to the muted infrastructure spending of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), resulting from election-related prohibition on public spending for specific activities, goods, or services, as well as lower volume of contractor billings," the DBM said.

Government agencies likely frontloaded and accelerated the implementation of infrastructure projects earlier this year, the DBM said.

The Commission on Elections implemented a 45-day ban on the release, disbursement or expenditures of public funds from March 28 to May 11.

The elections were held on May 12.