SENATE Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano has urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to use its projected ₱60 billion in savings from realigned construction material prices to strengthen key public services, especially in education.

Cayetano welcomed the DPWH’s plan to align its material cost estimates with current market rates, saying the move could generate significant savings that should be redirected to programs that directly improve Filipinos’ quality of life.

He stressed that education, health, and social welfare programs urgently need additional resources to address long-standing gaps.

“If we go to the programs of all the departments, ang gaganda ng mga programa but that’s not our question. You might be hitting the target pero mali ang target mo,” Cayetano said, emphasizing the need for spending that delivers meaningful outcomes.

The senator cited education as a top priority where the savings could make a real impact, particularly in solving classroom shortages that have forced many public schools to adopt double or even triple shifts.

“Maybe we can take Taguig as an example because we started building seven-storey buildings na may elevator,” Cayetano said, referring to his hometown’s efforts to modernize school infrastructure to accommodate more students.

He added that the DPWH’s savings could also help address child stunting, which he warned has long-term effects on learning and productivity.

“Marami sa stunted na bata ang magiging future PWDs. The more that we take care of the stunting now, the less we have to spend on interventions later on,” he said, noting that early investment in child health and education offers the best return.

Cayetano also reiterated his call for stronger financial assistance programs for families struggling with inflation, stressing that every peso saved must uplift lives.

While he lauded the DPWH for pursuing more efficient and accountable spending, he underscored that true reform means channeling funds to sectors long plagued by underinvestment.

“You cannot have good governance if you have a corrupt mentality,” he said.