SEN. President Win Gatchalian urged the executive department to ramp up responsible spending for infrastructure in the second half of the year to pump-prime the economy.

Gatchalian made the call after Department of Budget and Management data showed that government infrastructure spending fell 51.7 percent year-on-year in April, plummeting to P41.5 billion from P85.8 billion during the same period last year. This marks the fourth straight month of contraction, extending a slump that has persisted since the flood-control corruption scandal emerged in the second half of 2025.

"Itong infrastructure spending ang may pinakamalaking multiplier effect para sa pagpapaunlad ng ating ekonomiya. Kung nade-delay ang mga mahahalagang infrastructure projects ng bansa, nade-delay din ang pagkakataon nating makapagbigay ng trabaho sa ating mga kababayan at mapaunlad ang ating mga komunidad. Kailangan nating makabawi para mas gumanda ang paglago ng ekonomiya (Infrastructure spending yields the greatest multiplier effect for our economic development. If the country's vital infrastructure projects are delayed, we also delay the opportunity to provide jobs for our fellow citizens and uplift our communities. We need to catch up to ensure better economic growth)," he added.

The Senate President emphasized that while budget oversight and anti-corruption safeguards are important, they must not paralyze the country’s infrastructure development program. Accelerating public works and capital outlays, he said, is especially urgent amid the economic slump in the first quarter of the year.