Fact Check: Did Region 11 get P19 billion while NCR got 64 percent of infra budget?

During Sunday's PiliPinas Debates 2016, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte decried the imbalance between the budget given to the National Capital Region compared to the provinces.

"I will have to tell you that 65 percent or 64 percent of the infrastructure projects are here in Manila," said Duterte.

Later, he added: "I said this year, the budget was given to Manila the largest portion of it, 64 percent. Ang binigay sa Region 11, 19 billion, kanila 64? So how can you expect Mindanao to develop?"

GMA News Research checked Duterte's claim that P19 billion was allocated for infrastructure projects in Region 11.

According to the proposed infrastructure spending plan by the Department of Public Works and Highways for 2016, the agency is allocating P18.96 billion for infrastructure projects in Region 11 — close enough to Duterte's P19-billion claim.

VERDICT: True

GMA News Research also checked Duterte's claim that Metro Manila received 64 to 65 percent of the budget for infrastructure projects.

The same release from DPWH reveals that the National Capital Region has been allocated just P19.7 billion in infrastructure, amounting to just six percent of the total P357 billion budget for infrastructure.

VERDICT: False, based on the DPWH infrastructure plan for 2016

—JST, GMA News