Marilyn Cahatol

Photo shows the NLEX-SLEX Connector near the Caloocan Interchange, during a site inspection of Senator Mark Villar and representatives of the Department of Public Works and Highway and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation on December 23, 2022. Section 1 of the 8-kilometer NLEX connector linking C3-Caloocan to España is 92 percent complete, while construction of Section 2, linking España, Manila to PUP in Sta. Mesa is 25 percent done according to Metro Pacific Investments Corporation. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

NLEX-SLEX CONNECTOR

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178697158944920221223-nlex-skyway-connector-JC-0998.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Photo shows the NLEX-SLEX Connector near the Caloocan Interchange, during a site inspection of Senator Mark Villar and representatives of the Department of Public Works and Highway and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation on December 23, 2022. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Malacañang vowed Monday that the Marcos administration will ensure careful but expedited fund release for infrastructure projects to boost economic growth.</p><p>Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the government will have a &quot;balanced&quot; approach in infrastructure spending for the economy to regain its momentum following a slowdown in the wake of the flood control fiasco.</p><p>“Kaya ngayon po ay puspusan ang pamahalaan sa pamumuno na rin po ng DBM, ni Secretary Kim de Leon, na dapat ay magkaroon na po ng public spending at ang nangunguna po dito ay patungkol sa imprastraktura,” Castro said in a briefing Monday, August 17.</p><p>“At hindi po kailangang mag-alala, ang sabi nga po ng Pangulo, iyan po ang tinitingnan at kailangang balansehin,” he added.</p><p>The Palace official also noted that an ad hoc subcommittee on project implementation and results monitoring will be in place to ensure that infrastructure projects will be given to rightful contractors.</p><p>Marcos Jr. earlier said his government has employed measures to accelerate public spending after experiencing delays due to the flood control controversy.</p><p>However, he took note of the issue on absorptive capacity not only of the government agencies, but also of contractors.</p><p>“They can only do so much work. So throwing money at the problem simply doesn&#x27;t solve it, doesn&#x27;t make anything better. And that is the balance that we are trying to manage right now,” he had said, expressing confidence that the Philippines can “catch up and exceed the year-on-year public spending by the last quarter of this year.”</p><p>Castro also expressed optimisms when asked about how would the Marcos administration address its infrastructure backlogs by next year.</p><p>“Iyan din naman po ang gustong mangyari at naipangako ni DBM Secretary Kim de Leon. Pero hindi naman dahil sa nagmamadali tayo ay hindi na natin ia-assess or i-evaluate ang mga programa at mga proyekto na isasagawa sa ngayon – nandoon pa rin po ang pag-iingat pero mas mabilis na po ang pagri-release ng pondo ngayon basta po mapatunayan lamang na tama po ang proyektong gagawin,” she said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/8/12/ex-budget-chief-diokno-says-gov-t-revenue-targets-for-2027-too-optimistic-1638">Ex-budget chief Diokno says gov&#x27;t revenue targets for 2027 &#x27;too optimistic&#x27;; says infra spending is key</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>CASTRO VS. ERICE</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, Castro also fired back anew at Caloocan Representative Edgar Erice who reportedly claimed in an interview that Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon allegedly told him that he would receive zero allocations despite his requests for infra funding in Caloocan.</p><p>Castro said Dizon himself denied the lawmaker’s claim, calling it baseless and fake news.</p><p>“Tinawagan mismo natin si Secretary Vince Dizon at ipinaalam natin kung ano ang tinuran nitong si Congressman Erice sa isang panayam at iyan po ay pinasinungalingan mismo ni Secretary Vince Dizon dahil hindi po niya nakakausap si Congressman Erice patungkol sa kaniyang pagbibintang,” she said.</p><p>“At hindi naman po makakapanira ang mga sinasabi ni Congressman Erice sa pamahalaan lalung-lalo na kung ito naman ay puro fake news at walang basehan,” Castro added. </p><p>Castro earlier blasted Erice for calling Marcos Jr.’s pronouncement of pursuing cases against his cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez “all for show”.</p><p>“So, walang magiging dahilan para siya ay katakutan at hindi natatakot ang gobyernong ito sa anumang pagbabatikos dahil kung anuman ang mga mensahe ng ating mga kababayan, iyan naman po ay tinatanggap at inaalam ng Pangulo para malaman kung ano ang kulang, kung anong dapat gawin,” the Palace official said.</p><p>“Pero iyong mga mensahe na walang basehan hindi po ito nakakapanira sa pamahalaan, hindi ito nakakaapekto. Pero dapat po na ituwid dahil mayroong nagmamalaki, kung anu-anong sinasabi sa pamahalaan, iyon pala ay galing lang sa kaniyang sariling bibig na walang anumang ebidensiya,” she added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/17/no-leadership-fund-allowed-in-2027-budget-dbm-chief-1821">No &#x27;leadership fund&#x27; allowed in 2027 budget – DBM chief</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F5VZzsriEOE?si=BabZt4dRyc3TPKUi" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Malacañang vowed Monday that the Marcos administration will ensure careful but expedited fund release for infrastructure projects to boost economic growth.</p>

Malacañang vowed Monday that the Marcos administration will ensure careful but expedited fund release for infrastructure projects to boost economic growth.

Palace assures prudent but faster fund release for infra spending to spur economic growth

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Palace assures prudent but faster fund release for infra spending to spur economic growth

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 17, 2026 09:02 PM PHT

Read More:

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Claire Castro

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