DBM allots P822B to infrastructure development

The Department of Budget and Management has allotted P822.2 billion to the Department of Public Works and Highways for the proposed 2024 National Expenditure Program to build more public facilities, including roads and bridges, under the Marcos Administration's Build Better More Program.

In a statement on Monday, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman underscored the need for the country to bounce back after its economic losses during the pandemic.

"As highlighted by the President during his second State of the Nation Address (SONA), infrastructure development is one of the key drivers of our continuing economic growth," Pangandaman said.

"As such, we will sustain this momentum through the Build Better More Program. This will prioritize physical connectivity infrastructure such as road networks and railway systems," she added.

Flood Management, one of DPWH's significant programs, gets the largest budget at P215.643 billion for 965 projects to construct or rehabilitate flood mitigation facilities in major river basins and principal rivers.

Convergence and Special Support Program followed next with P174.089 billion proposed budget.

For Network Development, P148.112 billion will be spent to construct 721.656 kilometers of new roads and widen or improve 647.288 kilometers of existing roads.

For Asset Preservation, a budget of P115.588 billion is allotted to implement the preventive maintenance of 1,196.398 kilometers of roads and upgrade of 798.711 kilometers of damaged paved roads.

The Bridge Program's P45.839 billion allocation is for the construction of 15,208.83 lineal meters of bridges and maintenance, retrofitting, repair, and rehabilitation, as well as the widening of 525 existing bridges.

A separate budget of P13.968 billion is allocated to the Tourism Road Infrastructure Program which will provide access roads leading to declared tourism destinations.

Moreover, an allocation of P10.020 billion will be for the Roads Leveraging Linkages for Industry and Trade Infrastructure Program; Tatag ng Imprastraktura para sa Kapayapaan at Seguridad (TIKAS) Program for military and police facilities, P3.8 billion; Special Road Fund for the construction, upgrading, repair, and rehabilitation of roads, bridges, and road drainage, P15.232 billion.