Villar laments halving of DPWH budget for 2023
Government Infrastracture

Villar laments halving of DPWH budget for 2023

Nov 17, 2022, 6:34 AM
Dhana Garcia

Dhana Garcia

Writer

Former Secretary (now Senator) Mark Villar of the Department of Public Works and Highways lamented the budget cut in the agency's maintenance program by half, which he lamented would impinge on its ability to carry out its duties and responsibilities.

Sen. Mark A. Villar, former chief of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), questioned the decision to halve the maintenance fund of DPWH for 2023, warning that it would thwart efforts to provide desperately- needed infrastructure services.

Villar stressed the importance of giving the agency its needed budget in order to properly perform its duties and responsibilities, Business Mirror reported.

The budget of DPWH for maintenance was cut from P24 billion to P 11.3 billion.

“I just like to take this opportunity to manifest that if we want the service, if we want to experience the full capability of the DPWH, if we have the expectation that it will provide us the service, I think we should also reciprocate by giving them the budget that is needed.” Villar stressed.

Villar explained that based on his past experience as its former head any reduction in the budget would lead to a lower service level for the department.

Villar explained to Sen. Sonny Angara, presiding chair of the Committee on Finance, that the maintenance fund is used for infrastructure repair and rehabilitation, maintenance of national roads and bridges, operation of weightbridge stations, and routine maintenance.

DPWH spending priorities

But Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano questioned the spending priorities of the DPWH as reflected in its 2023 budget proposal. He said that the agency appears to be more concerned with preserving existing infrastructure rather than constructing new roads and bridges.

He also pointed out that the amount of public money to be spent on maintenance and repair works, which is roughly 1/3 of the proposed P737.36 billion budget, is inconsistent with the administration's 'Build Better, More' infrastructure push.

“If I add up all the individual items for maintenance and rehabilitation, it now stands at over P200 billion. So it’s like almost a third of the budget. This is not a ‘Build Better More’ budget, this is a ‘Maintenance Pa More’ budget.” Cayetano said.

The money set aside for the DPWH's asset preservation program, worth P90.48 billion in 2023, and its flood management program, worth P166.22 billion, dwarf the funds set aside for the public works agency's network development and bridge building programs of around P140 billion.

Cayetano also mentioned that by going through the DPWH's 2023 budget line by line, any observer can see many smaller items within the agency's larger budget categories that are intended for maintenance, repair, and retrofitting works.

The DPWH was reminded by Cayetano to stick with the Marcos administration’s expansionary program for infrastructure development. Otherwise, it should notify the President that repair and maintenance will be prioritized.

With that, DPWH is urged by Cayetano to pursue the construction of new infrastructure, particularly in areas of the country in desperate need of better roads and bridges.

“Sure we need to maintain roads but we also need a lot of new roads especially going to the tourist sites.” Cayetano added.

Sen. Robinhood Padilla appealed to the DPWH to assist in the repair of roads in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) region to ensure its economic prosperity.

Padilla lamented the dilapidated roads in the BARMM region's marginalized areas. Padilla used the example of motorists coming from Sultan Kudarat, pointing out that the roads in the area were already paved but not for its neighbor Maguindanao.

“If we are going to follow the directives of President Marcos, Jr. to continue the programs under the Bangsamoro Basic Law, we have to work together to fix the roads in the area.” Padilla said.

Angara replied that Secretary Manuel Bonoan gave his word that DPWH will prioritize the road construction projects in BARMM.

Tags: #DPWH, #Maintenance, #Roads


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