THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) revealed on Tuesday that the Duterte administration’s infrastructure spending had risen to double-digit terms in August.

Driven by the government’s ambitious “Build, Build, Build” program, the spending on infrastructure and other capital outlays stood at P68.4 billion, up 70.5 percent or P28.3 billion from P40.1 billion in the same period last year.

Data released by the DBM also noted that this brought the first eight months spending on infrastructure to P505.6 billion, up 49.8 percent from P337.6 billion year-on-year.

“This increase was mostly due to the various projects implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways; which include road widening, repair, and construction, flood control, and drainage improvement projects, among others,” said the DBM in a statement.

“The modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines also contributed to the surge in spending with the procurement of military communication equipment,” it added.

As of end-August, the DBM has released 93 percent or P3.498 trillion of the P3.77-trillion national budget for 2018.