The huge government infrastructure spending will lead the construction growth next year from the otherwise private sector-led growth and push a more robust industry, which has kept the economy afloat despite the crisis.

This was the assessment of Philippine Constructors Association (PCA) president Anthony L. Fernandez during a talk with reporters at the sidelines of the forum on Guam Opportunities for Philippine engineering contractors.

According to Fernandez, the industry posted between 6 to 7 percent growth as of November this year. The industry is expected to grow better next year.

“Outlook is very positive and growth is mostly likely to be sustained next year. The domestic construction industry has been spared from the global financial crisis. The construction sector is the main reason that we are able to sustain our economic growth,” Fernandez said.

Fernandez added that the huge infrastructure spending of the government and the election spending are going to further fuel growth in the construction sector.

In the past, he said, the private sector led the growth in this sector with 60 percent share fueled by commercial construction works and the robust housing sector while the government spending accounts for only 40 percent.

But a shift in favor of government is expected next year because of the huge government infrastructure spending.

“There would be a shift next year or at least a balanced share between the government and the private sector,” he said.

Also fueling the growth would be the reconstruction efforts of the government after typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.

Multinational financial institutions have come to aid the Philippines following the massive damage caused by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.

Already, the World Bank (WB) has offered to realign some $480 million as development loans for the Philippines reconstruction effort.

The PCA, which represents 1,500 constructor firms nationwide, has urged for a reconstruction program that should be sustainable even beyond the present dispensation.

Fernandez said they have raised this concern during their meeting with the chairman of the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation (PDRF)chaired by businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan. PDRF is the private sector partner of the government’s Special National Public Reconstruction Commission (SNPRC) chaired by Finance Secretary Margarito B. Teves.