PBBM orders market-aligned pricing for gov’t infra projects

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

Marcos said the new system must now be the standard “across all of government.” (PCO photo)

BUSAN, South Korea – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has expanded his earlier order for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to slash bloated infrastructure costs, directing all government agencies to adopt the same pricing reform to curb corruption and align project costs with real market rates.

In his departure speech for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting in South Korea on Thursday, Marcos said the move aims to enforce transparency and fiscal discipline across the bureaucracy.

“Alongside our efforts to strengthen the Philippines’ regional foothold and attract investments, we continue to cleanse our bureaucracy of corruption—because only a transparent government can build a fair economy,” he said at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

The directive covers infrastructure and capital outlay projects under the Departments of Education (DepEd), Agriculture (DA), Health (DOH), Transportation (DOTr), and the Interior and Local Government (DILG), as well as the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).

“The Department of Public Works is now aligning its project costs with real market prices,” Marcos said.

“The quality of what we build will not be compromised. The only thing weakened will be corruption.”

The order expands a policy he first imposed on the DPWH last week after audits revealed project estimates inflated by up to 50 percent.

Marcos said the new system must now be the standard “across all of government.”

“It will not be limited to the Public Works but shall be the norm across government. We are reducing costs for 2026 of the FMRs (farm-to-market roads), irrigation, classrooms, and hospitals,” Marcos said.

“In this light, the DepEd, DA, DILG, DOH, DOTr, NIA, and all other relevant agencies shall immediately follow the same pricing system as that of the DPWH.”

Savings from the cost review, he said, will be redirected to programs that “uplift families, support livelihoods, and strengthen communities.”

The President’s latest directive comes as the government continues its sweeping investigation into corruption in public infrastructure, particularly in flood control projects.

“A government that honors public trust, a nation that stands firm on integrity—this is our promise,” he said. “A real change for every Filipino today and for generations to come.”