Pay well-performing contractors of infra projects ASAP—Marcos
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. holds a press conference at the Malacañan Palace on Sept. 15, 2025 to announce the chair of the newly-created Independent Commission for Infrastructure. (Mark Balmores)
President Marcos has ordered government agencies to promptly pay contractors who have completed infrastructure projects under their contracts.
"Ipinag-utos na ng Pangulo na siguruhing mababayaran ang mga contractor na maayos na tumutupad sa kanilang mga kontrata (The President has ordered to ensure that contractors who properly fulfill their contracts be paid)," Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a Palace briefing on Monday, Feb. 2.
Marcos made the directive during his meeting with the economic team last week, according to Castro.
"At isa po ito sa inuutos ng Pangulo na mabayaran na po ang mga kontraktor na naging maganda at hindi naging pasaway na mga kontraktor para sa bansa at isa po ito na kailangang iutos para muling sumigla iyong industriya patungkol sa imprastraktura (And this is one of the President’s orders, to ensure that contractors who have performed well and responsibly for the country are paid. This is also an order needed to help revitalize the infrastructure industry)," Castro said.
According to the Palace official, there is no timeline on the release of payment to contractors, but the President wants it to be done as soon as possible.
She also explained that the payment was not immediately released to some contractors due the review of ongoing projects, both those that were delivered properly and those tagged as ghost projects.
The directive also calls for stronger coordination between national and local government units to oversee infrastructure projects effectively.