Recto asserts transparency in taxpayer-funded infrastructure

Government officials recently conducted site visits to major infrastructure projects in Mindanao, emphasizing the importance of transparency and fiscal accountability in public spending.

The projects inspected are part of the %u20B127.26-billion Improving Growth Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector Project (IGCMRSP), which aims to enhance regional mobility and expand the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) road network.

The program is financed through %u20B121.09 billion in official development assistance from the Asian Development Bank, with an additional %u20B16.12 billion as the national government’s counterpart contribution.

Among the key developments visited were the R.T. Lim–Siocon Road, a 24.6-kilometer corridor connecting Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga del Norte, and the Nalil-Sikkiat Bridge No. 1 in Tawi-Tawi, spanning 380.8 meters. Both projects are close to completion, with the road expected to open in September and the bridge slated for inauguration next month.

Officials noted that the infrastructure program supports local development through improved transport efficiency, reduced travel time, and expanded access to goods and services—particularly for remote island communities.

Despite a reported 27.8 percent dip in infrastructure spending in April, attributed to the midterm election season, cumulative spending from January to April grew by 3.6 percent year-on-year, reaching %u20B1347.6 billion.

The projects also include inclusive design features such as safer pathways and better access for children, the elderly, women, and persons with disabilities.