84% of gov't infrastructure projects for 2013 already bid out, DBM says

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced Monday that 84 percent of all projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have been bid out as of end-January.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said the DPWH has already bid out 2,260 of its 2,697 projects set for 2013, with 868 or 32 percent of all projects already given Notices to Proceed (NTPs).

"Toward the end of 2012, we asked the DPWH to advance the procurement process short of award for all their infrastructure projects this year. This allowed the agency to hit the ground running as early as January, so that public infrastructure spending and development can proceed at a quicker pace this year," Abad said.

He noted that 56 percent or P51.5 billion of the P92.4 billion budget for the DPWH's 2013 infrastructure program has already been obligated by the agency, ensuring the immediate implementation of its public infrastructure projects for the year.

"We expect more NTPs to be issued within the first and second quarters. Additionally, the fund requirements for projects with approved contracts have already been obligated by the DPWH. This will guarantee the faster delivery of key infrastructure services to the public, particularly during the first semester of the year," he said.

"Since 2010, the DPWH has engaged in a dedicated campaign to clean up its procurement system and institute transparency and competitiveness in the bidding process. These reforms enabled the agency to facilitate greater efficiency in public fund use and project implementation," he added.

Abad also said the DBM intends to fast-track expenditures for public construction this year in view of the administration's goal of facilitating rapid, inclusive, and sustainable growth.

"The country's economic growth—influenced in particular by expanded public construction in 2012—made a very strong showing last year. We are keen on sustaining these gains by pushing for greater budget reforms in 2013, which will help create more fiscal space for public infrastructure and bring spending for the sector to 6 percent of GDP by 2016," he said.
(Jill Beltran/Sunnex)