Government ramps up infra spending in 2016

MANILA, Philippines - The government will ramp up public spending on infrastracture next year to sustain the country’s growth momentum, data from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) showed.

Under the proposed P3.002-trillion national budget for 2016,  the government aims to spend P766.5 billion for public infrastructure, nearly 35 percent higher than this year’s allocation of P569.9 billion.

According to the DBM data, next year’s budget allocation  is about five percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and more than four times the P165 billion infrastructure spending by the government in 2010. 

“We implemented bold reforms to ensure that we spend on the right projects at the right cost and with the right quality,”  President Aquino said in his budget message following the submission of the proposed 2016 national budget to Congress.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) accounted for the lion’s share   of infrastructure budget with P268.4 billion for the pavement of national roads and construction of access roads to airports, seaports, and tourist destinations.

Allocations for the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC)  amounted to P10.2 billion for the construction and improvement of airports and seaports, and P15.7 billion for the rehabilitation of railway systems.

“In addition to infrastructure, this budget invests in strategic support services to boost agriculture, revitalize the manufacturing sector, and further expand the tourism industry,” Aquino said.

Budget allocation for the Department of Agriculture stood at P93.4 billion for the  construction of  more farm-to-market roads and irrigation services, and provide for services that will help farmers diversify their crops and reach the right markets.

The Department of Agrarian Reform’s budget  stood at  P4.5 billion  for the acquisition and distribution of covered lands to beneficiaries.

DBM data also showed the government plans to continue supporting the manufacturing sector next year with P10.6 billion set aside for technical-vocational and tertiary education scholarships to enhance the quality of the workforce.

Another P780 million has been earmarked for the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading program for 2,150 small and medium enterprises, while P201 million has been appropriated for the creation of 68 Negosyo Centers to assist SMEs.

At the same time, the government alloted P24 billion for additional infrastructure to make tourism destinations more accessible under the proposed 2016 budget, while budget for tourism promotion  stood  at P4.3 billion.