Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito has called on the government to continue spending on infrastructure programs despite the fallout from the flood control scandal in order to boost employment opportunities and revive the economy.

Ejercito warned the slowdown on infrastructure spending is already dragging the country’s economic performance.

“Every peso invested in infrastructure generates P2.4 to P3 in economic activity,” Ejercito 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 (We will not let go of the issue of flood control until we are held accountable... but let's not let go of the vision for our infrastructure development),” he added.

Citing data from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the senator noted that infrastructure spending plunged to 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 foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth easing to 4 percent, the slowest since the lockdown years.

Ejercito stressed restoring investor confidence requires keeping infrastructure works on track while introducing clearer safeguards to address the issues raised in the flood control controversy.

“If we want to revive economic momentum, attract investments, and create jobs, we must continue building,” he said.

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, we can catch up. From this time until January, we need to implement the catch-up plan so we can recover in terms of spending and the economic activity will resume,” he said.

The lawmaker also reiterated the need to realign “savings” from flood control projects toward other high-impact infrastructure projects such as airports, seaports, and classrooms, areas that could deliver strong multiplier effects on the economy.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and who defended the DPWH’s budget, supported the move, saying such realignments would help sustain momentum in the sector.