State universities taking on major infrastructure projects independently

MANILA — State universities and colleges across the Philippines are increasingly handling their own infrastructure development projects worth more than P5 million, bypassing the traditional role of the Department of Public Works and Highways, a lawmaker said Wednesday.

Pinoy Workers party-list Rep. Karl Josef Legazpi raised the concern during House deliberations, highlighting how some SUCs have begun managing major construction and facility projects independently rather than routing them through DPWH channels.

The shift reflects growing institutional capacity among universities to oversee their own capital projects, though it raises questions about standardization, oversight, and coordination across the higher education sector. The move comes as SUCs continue to address aging infrastructure and expand facilities to accommodate growing student populations.

Legazpi's remarks underscored the need for clarity on whether such independent project implementation aligns with government procurement regulations and inter-agency coordination protocols. The issue touches on broader concerns about project quality, budget accountability, and the role of specialized agencies in overseeing public infrastructure development.