Quezon City 5th district Rep. Alfred Vargas explained on Sunday just how important it is for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to spend its proposed P667.3-billion budget for 2021 up "to the last centavo."

“We cannot afford underspending as usual. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has made it clear that infrastructure spending is critical for the country to rebound from the pandemic," Vargas said in a statement.

"It is important for DPWH to spend, spend, spend its budget to the last centavo,” the House Appropriations Committee vice-chairman stressed.

Vargas was obviously alluding to the Duterte administration's "Build, Build, Build" infrastructure modernization program, of which the DPWH has poured much of its budget in the last four years.

United Kingdom-based think tank Oxford Economics said in a report last April that infrastructure spending should increase by another 1.2 percentage points if the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) were to grow to seven percent annually.

The research firm, however, noted that infrastructure spending has been “slow” in the Philippines. It cited the “the limited capacity of major government departments” to fully use their budgets as a “key issue” that the government should address.

Vargas said one way for DPWH to utilize its budget is to continue allocating funds for infrastructure projects which were already started in 2019 and 2020. He said priority must be given to projects promoting the safe and efficient movement of people, which is key to economic growth.

“DPWH should also fast-track the construction of roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and evacuation centers. These infrastructure projects are important in ensuring public welfare and safety in the ‘new normal,’” the third-term congressman said.

To improve its absorptive capacity, Vargas urged DPWH to hire more employees to focus on key infrastructure projects.

“The bidding process must also be strengthened while ensuring transparency and accountability. Technology must be utilized so the processing of paperwork will become more efficient,” he said.

Vargas said DPWH should also partner with the Technical Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) and other educational institutions for skills development as hiring is expected to ramp up with the implementation of various infrastructure projects.

“We must equip our workers with the necessary skills so they can benefit from the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program,” he said.