President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced on Thursday that his administration will slash the cost of key government infrastructure projects beginning 2026 as part of a sweeping effort to curb corruption and ensure greater accountability in public spending.
Speaking before his flight to South Korea, Marcos said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has already started aligning project expenses with actual market rates, reporting cost reductions of as much as 50 percent for infrastructure such as farm-to-market roads, irrigation systems, school buildings, and hospitals.
He emphasized that lowering expenses does not mean sacrificing construction standards. “So, let me be clear: The quality of what we build will not be compromised. The only thing weakened will be corruption. This is the accountability our citizens deserve,” Marcos said.
The President added that other agencies involved in infrastructure and public services—including the Departments of Education, Agriculture, Interior and Local Government, Health, and Transportation, as well as the National Irrigation Administration—will adopt the same pricing protocol to ensure uniformity and transparency across government operations.
