D.M. Consunji Inc., the engineering unit of DMCI Holdings Inc., is pivoting its focus toward massive government infrastructure projects to offset slowdown in private-sector construction activity.

In an interview, DMCI President Jorge A. Consunji said that the company’s primary target is the multi-billion-peso relocation of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) currency production facility.

The central bank plans to move its printing operations from its longtime home on East Avenue in Quezon City to New Clark City in Pampanga.

The project is split into two phases: a restricted section for currency production and an unrestricted area housing administration offices and a museum.

Consunji estimated the complex's total value at approximately ₱40 billion. Because the facility involves sensitive national security matters, the bidding process is limited to domestic firms.

“The exciting bid is the complex of the BSP in Clark City,” Consunji said. He noted that the security requirements provide a rare competitive advantage for Philippine companies by barring foreign firms, including major Chinese contractors, from participating.

DMCI intends to bid for one or both sections of the project through a consortium comprised of three major local construction players.

While the bidding was originally slated for December of last year, the timeline has shifted. Consunji expects the auction to proceed in May, which would likely push the start of physical construction to the first quarter of 2027.

The pivot toward public works comes as DMCI evaluates several other potential government contracts. The company is monitoring upcoming projects from the Department of Public Works and Highways, specifically those designed to ease urban congestion through new flyovers and intersection improvements.

DMCI is also maintaining a cautious stance on the government’s mass housing initiatives. Consunji said the company is waiting for the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development to revise its pricing structures.

He noted that the agency recently consulted with private contractors to understand the lack of interest in current housing projects. Contractors informed officials that current price ceilings are too low to ensure profitability, leaving the next move to the government.

Regarding the nation’s railway expansion, Consunji expressed optimism about the Department of Transportation’s efforts to accelerate work on the North-South Commuter Railway.

The government aims to begin partial operations on the segment between Valenzuela and Malolos by 2028. Consunji said the steady progress in the rail sector is a positive indicator for the broader industry.