Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday said corruption should not be used as a reason to scale back government infrastructure spending, warning that such an approach could slow economic growth and hurt ordinary Filipinos.
Gatchalian pointed out that infrastructure programs remain essential drivers of jobs, productivity and long-term development, even as the government confronts persistent concerns over misuse of public funds.
“The solution for corruption is to jail people, file cases, and make them accountable. Corruption cannot be the reason to remove infrastructure programs,” he said.
The reduced allocation for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) this year, according to the senator, stands at P521 billion after budget cuts.
At about 4.5 percent of gross domestic product, the current DPWH allocation falls short of the government’s long-standing target of at least 5 percent of GDP for infrastructure spending.
The funding level, he said, represents one of the lowest allocations for the agency in recent years, despite continued infrastructure needs across the country.
“After the flood control exploded, there was a slowdown in infrastructure spending. So, there’s a lot of money left for infrastructure that can be continued for 2026,” Gatchalian said.
According to the senator, reducing infrastructure spending as a response to corruption would shift the burden to citizens who rely on roads, flood control systems and public facilities for safety and livelihoods.
“We need to adjust. This can’t be a permanent thing. We still need to spend 5% of GDP or more for infrastructure,” Gatchalian said.
