June 28th, 2025
House Ways and Means Chair Joey Sarte Salceda on Friday proposed a strategy to accelerate the implementation of nearly ₱1 trillion worth of delayed Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects, while expressing full support for the Marcos administration’s infrastructure and development agenda.
Citing the 2024 ODA Portfolio Review, Salceda noted that the country’s active ODA portfolio has reached USD39.61 billion, with USD24.81 billion allocated to infrastructure—reflecting what he described as a “clear and consistent focus” by President Marcos Jr. on long-term public investment.
“This administration has secured the financing and set the vision. Now the work is to deliver results faster and more cost-effectively,” Salceda said.
According to the same report, 72 percent of ICC-approved ODA projects are delayed, with average setbacks of almost 39 months. Salceda emphasized that these include close to ₱1 trillion in programs that are already approved and funded but have yet to move at full speed.
“These are not proposals on paper. They are ongoing projects with real economic and social returns once completed. The goal now is to help government finish them sooner,” he said.
To support this objective, Salceda proposed the adoption of a Project Readiness Index, a technical scoring tool that assesses implementation readiness based on factors such as right-of-way access, detailed design completion, procurement progress, budget programming, and staffing.
“The Readiness Index will help the government identify which projects can be accelerated now and which ones need more preparation. It will also help guide the timing of budget releases and technical support,” Salceda explained.
The government paid USD16.80 million in commitment fees last year due to undisbursed loan funds, the report added. Salceda said this figure underscores the need for better alignment between financing and delivery.
“This proposal is not meant to block or delay approvals. It is meant to support Build Better More by turning commitments into completions,” he said.
Salceda said he will recommend that the Development Budget Coordination Committee consider adopting the strategy in time for the 2026 budget cycle.