President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered all government agencies to significantly reduce project costs as part of a sweeping effort to curb corruption and ensure the proper use of public funds.

Marcos, speaking Thursday before he departed for Gyeongju, Republic of Korea, to attend the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting, said the government is moving to bring down the costs of infrastructure projects for 2026, including farm-to-market roads, irrigation systems, classrooms, and hospitals.

The savings, he added, will be channeled to socio-economic programs aimed at improving the lives of Filipinos.

“So, alongside our efforts to strengthen the Philippines’ regional foothold and attract investments, we continue to cleanse our bureaucracy of corruption, because only a transparent government can build a fair economy,” the President said.

The directive follows a similar order Marcos gave before departing for Malaysia for the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, where he instructed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to cut construction material costs by as much as 50 percent. 

The move, he said, could save the government between P30 billion and P45 billion, which would then be redirected to critical sectors such as health, education, and food security.

“Last October 25, this Administration renewed a promise that guides all our actions: to guard every peso entrusted to us, and to return it to our people in the form of progress they can see and feel,” Marcos said.


“When funds are protected and spent with discipline, prices ease, opportunities grow, and communities thrive.”

The President emphasized that cost reductions will not come at the expense of quality, noting that DPWH projects are now being aligned with actual market prices.

“Let me be clear: The quality of what we build will not be compromised. The only thing weakened will be corruption. This is the accountability our citizens deserve,” he said.

Marcos further directed agencies, including the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Transportation (DOTr), and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA,) to immediately adopt the same pricing system being implemented by the DPWH.

“The savings we secure will go where they matter most: to programs that uplift families, support livelihoods, and strengthen communities,” the Chief Executive said.
“Because when our people grow in capability and confidence, the nation grows with them.”

The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transparency and fiscal discipline, saying that government integrity is essential to achieving sustainable national growth.

“A government that honors public trust. A nation that stands firm on integrity. This is our promise—and real change for every Filipino today and for generations to come,” Marcos declared.