Marcos orders more cost cutting across government

Metro Manila, Philippines - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday, Oct. 30, ordered more government agencies to cut the cost of their infrastructure projects, following the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) move to align construction material prices with real market rates and reduce them by as much as 50 percent.

“The quality of what we build will not be compromised. The only thing weakened will be corruption,” Marcos said in his departure statement before leaving for Gyeongju, South Korea, to attend the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting.

Marcos said the DPWH’s recalibration of project costs will serve as the new standard for all infrastructure spending across government, noting that the savings could be redirected to priority programs that “uplift families, support livelihoods, and strengthen communities.”

“This is the accountability our citizens deserve,” the president said. “It will not be limited to Public Works but shall be the norm across government.”

Under his directive, the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Transportation (DOTr), and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) are required to immediately adopt the same pricing system as the DPWH.

Marcos said the initiative aims to reduce the costs of constructing classrooms, farm-to-market roads, irrigation systems, and hospitals starting 2026. The move is expected to save the government billions of pesos, which could be redirected to key social and economic programs.

“When funds are protected and spent with discipline, prices ease, opportunities grow, and communities thrive,” he said.

Marcos also reaffirmed his administration’s drive to eliminate corruption in public works and ensure transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.

“The savings we secure will go where they matter most,” he said.