Key government agencies met in Malacanang on May 14 for the regular assessment of the execution of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to speed up implementation of administration projects.
Five agencies – DA, DOTR, DPWH, DepEd, DBM – handling big ticket programs tackled budget utilization issues to narrow the gap between disbursements and releases.
Government wide allocation releases programmed for the second quarter have so far reached P1.287 trillion, “and it is a must that the social good that this will fund be enjoyed by the people soonest,” Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said.
The UPLIFT agenda protects households, support vulnerable sectors, ensure adequate energy supply and affordable food for all Filipinos.
Recto said “there are spots of underspending and these must be resolved immediately.”
Department officials present said new procurement rules that expedite project acquisition should be maximized to cut delivery delays.
Recto said “there is a way that we can speed up the process without taking legal shortcuts. Red tape that causes paralysis without sacrificing transparency can be done away with.”
“The President’s order is to fast-track priority programs to push economic growth against global headwinds,” he said.
In multiple Cabinet meetings, “President Marcos has urged his Cabinet to speed up the projects and programs that will have the highest multiplier effect, create jobs, battle inflation, with focus on food security,” Recto said.
To address economic disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict, which saw oil prices spike, the government packaged a multi-agency response called UPLIFT.
The UPLIFT agenda protects households, support vulnerable sectors, ensure adequate energy supply and affordable food for all Filipinos.
Overall, government spending, which impacts GDP report card, is necessary to pump prime the economy.
