President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered all government agencies—not just the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)—to reduce project costs to prevent overpricing and corruption.
Marcos Jr. said the move aims to make government spending more efficient, with savings redirected to vital programs in health, education, agriculture, and social welfare. The policy will cover projects such as farm-to-market roads, irrigation, classrooms, and hospitals starting 2026.
“This approach will not be limited to the DPWH but shall be the norm across government. We are reducing the 2026 costs of farm-to-market roads, irrigation, classrooms, and hospitals,” he said before departing for the APEC Summit in South Korea.
Earlier, the President directed the DPWH to align its construction costs with real market prices, reducing them by up to 50 percent, which could save the government P30 to P45 billion.
Marcos Jr. instructed agencies including the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Health, Department of Transportation, and National Irrigation Administration to adopt the same pricing standards.
“The savings we secure will go where they matter most: to programs that uplift families, support livelihoods, and strengthen communities. Because when our people grow in capability and confidence, the nation grows with them,” according to him.
He emphasized that the initiative is part of his administration’s broader campaign to promote transparency, integrity, and accountability in public service.IMT
