This brought disbursements for the first four months of 2018 to 1.03 trillion peso, up 29 per cent from 798.4 billion peso in the same period last year.

Budget Secretary Ben Diokno yesterday said in a briefing that disbursements for infrastructure and other capital outlays last month jumped 96 per cent to 65.6 billion peso from 33.5 billion peso in April 2017.

“We are keeping our foot on the gas pedal with regard to government spending,” Diokno said. “We will maintain this positive momentum for the rest of the year.”

The Department of Public Works and Highways helped rev up spending with the upgrading and widening of roads and bridges; building and improvement of roads that lead to tourist destinations; building flood control structures and drainage systems; preventive maintenance for existing infrastructure, and payment of right-of-way claims.

Also helping accelerate spending were outlays for state universities and colleges, particularly on information technology gear for the University of the Philippines System.