The Department Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is looking at reduced prices of construction materials used in government projects, including infrastructure projects under the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

In a press conference on Monday, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon announced that the department will eliminate overpricing in its projects, rather, the prices will be aligned with the current market rates.

He noted that the move is part of a major reform in the agency.

“Major reform measure, the biggest single piece of reform that we will implement here in the DPWH, is to lower the amount of overpriced costs of materials,” Dizon said.

Among the priority materials for reduced prices are cement, asphalt, sand, steel sheet piles, gravel, and steel bars.

“This will be implemented on the projects slated in 2026 but it will also include some projects this year that have not been awarded,” the DPWH chief said.

According to Dizon, the move could save the government some PHP60 billion in next year’s national budget.

“The translation of the lowering of prices are additional 1,600 km. of concrete roads, 1,000 km. of asphalt road,” he noted.

Earlier, the President ordered the DPWH to reduce the prices of materials by 50 percent, without compromising the quality of structures.

Meanwhile, the DPWH and the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) on Monday signed a memorandum of agreement to enhance transparency and monitoring of the department’s projects.

Dizon and PhilSA Office in Charge Gay Jane Perez signed the agreement that will help track the ongoing projects until their completion using the PhilSA’s satellite technology.

“This is very important; we want to work with PhilSA to be able to monitor better our projects. We need to use a technology. We want to thank PhilSA,” he said.

“With this, hopefully, with this partnership it will signal the start of our road towards more transparency and a more effective way of monitoring,” Dizon added. (PNA)