Malacañang has directed key government agencies to accelerate the implementation of major administration projects and immediately address underspending issues as more than P1.287 trillion in second-quarter funds have already been released for priority programs.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said the Palace convened agency officials on Thursday to assess the progress of flagship programs and identify bottlenecks slowing down project execution and budget utilization.
Among the agencies involved in the review were the Department of Agriculture, Department of Transportation, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Education, and Department of Budget and Management.
Recto said the meeting focused on narrowing the gap between fund releases and actual disbursements to ensure government programs are felt by the public as quickly as possible.
“There are spots of underspending and these must be resolved immediately,” Recto said in a social media post.
“It is a must that the social good that this will fund be enjoyed by the people soonest,” he added.
According to Recto, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has repeatedly instructed Cabinet officials to fast-track projects and programs that would stimulate economic activity, generate jobs, help tame inflation, and strengthen food security.
“The President’s order is to fast-track priority programs to push economic growth against global headwinds,” Recto said.
Officials also discussed maximizing updated procurement rules designed to speed up project acquisition and reduce implementation delays without sacrificing transparency and accountability.
Recto added that the administration continues to roll out its Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food and Transport, or UPLIFT, to cushion the impact of rising oil prices and global economic disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East.
The multi-agency response program aims to protect households, support vulnerable sectors, ensure stable energy supply, and maintain affordable food prices for Filipino families.