Ejercito urges continued infra rollout to boost jobs, revive economic momentum
November 26, 2025
Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito urged the government to sustain infrastructure spending despite the fallout from the flood control scandal, warning that the slowdown is already dragging on economic performance.
Citing data from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Ejercito said infrastructure spending plunged 43 percent—from P137.1 billion in last year’s third quarter to P78.7 billion in the same period this year. The drop coincided with weaker economic signals, including declining FDI inflows and GDP growth easing to 4 percent, the slowest since the lockdown years.
He said restoring investor confidence requires keeping infrastructure works on track while introducing clearer safeguards to address the issues raised in the flood control controversy.
“Every peso invested in infrastructure generates P2.4 to P3 in economic activity,” he said.
“As policy-makers, we cannot stand still. Hindi natin bibitawan ang isyu ng flood control hangga’t hindi napapanagot… pero huwag sana nating bitawan ang vision para sa ating infrastructure development. If we want to revive economic momentum, attract investments, and create jobs, we must continue building.”
*Catch-up plan*
During plenary deliberations on the proposed Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) budget, Ejercito expressed his support for the agency’s catch-up plan aimed at speeding up construction at the last quarter of this year unti early next year, and boosting infrastructure spending.
“Hopefully, makahabol tayo. From this time until January, we need to implement the catch-up plan para maka-recover tayo sa spending at magtuloy ang economic activity,” he said.
Ejercito also reiterated the need to realign ‘savings’ from flood control projects toward other high-impact infrastructure projects such as airports, seaports, and classrooms, areas he said could deliver strong multiplier effects on the economy.
Senator Win Gatchalian, who defended the DPWH’s budget, supported the move, saying such realignments would help sustain momentum in the sector.
*System fixes*
Ejercito also stressed the need to safeguard businesses participating in government projects, saying legitimate contractors should be allowed to earn a reasonable profit margin and without interference from corrupt officials.
He warned that setting costs for construction materials at very low levels, compounded by harassment or demands for SOPs or “cuts” in contracts, could discourage honest companies from bidding—slowing infrastructure delivery and hurting both business and government programs.
“It’s a major reboot of our system. Kailangan balanse para tuloy-tuloy ang construction at ang multiplier effect nito sa ekonomiya. Dapat ma-encourage ang legitimate contractors na pumasok pa rin sa government projects,” Ejercito said.
He also noted the addition of station numbers or coordinates that map out the exact location and scope of each infrastructure project, saying this could help improve project identification and strengthen monitoring on ground.
“I would like to commend our Chair, Senator Win, for including in our budget committee report the station number for each infrastructure project under the DPWH. Makakatulong po ito para makampante ang ating mga legitimate construction firm na sumali muli sa public bidding. Magpapatuloy po ng maayos ang pagtatayo ng ating infrastructure projects.”
