By Brian Campued
To ensure transparency and proper use of public funds, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. directed Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon to review the proposed budget of the DPWH under the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP).
In a press briefing at Malacañang on Wednesday, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the “sweeping review” will result in necessary changes to the agency’s proposed budget, such as redirecting funds “towards infrastructure budgets that genuinely serve and benefit” the people.
Under the 2026 NEP, the DPWH proposed an P880 billion budget in its spending plan.
Castro said the President issued the directive after noticing possible duplication and insertion of projects in the agency’s proposed budget, citing information from House Deputy Speaker and Antipolo 1st District Rep. Ronaldo Puno and Marikina 1st District Rep. Marcelino Teodoro that the 2026 NEP included funding for already completed projects.
Alleged questionable entries in the proposed 2026 budget of the DPWH were also flagged by senators during Tuesday’s Senate Committee on Finance hearing.
“Kaya po ang DBM, pati po ang DPWH ay bubusisiin po ito talaga kung totoo bang nagkaroon ng mga duplication, nagkaroon ng insertion,” Castro said.
“So, dapat aralin po, baka naman talagang walang duplication, baka iba’t ibang phase lang siya. Pero kung mayroon talagang duplication, iyon po talaga ang bubusisiin ng DBM and DPWH,” she added.
Anomalies that would be discovered in the DPWH’s proposed budget will be removed through errata and then forwarded to Congress.
“Ang sabi po kasi ng DBM, hindi na maibabalik ang NEP sa kanila, magkakaroon lamang ng erratum—iko-correct, i-a-amend, [o] tatanggalin—para mabigyan sila, ang Senado, ang Kongreso ng listahan kung ano ‘yong dapat na hindi na ilagay,” Castro explained.
The President’s latest move comes amid ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the government’s flood control projects—which was questioned by Vice President Sara Duterte, claiming that the probe could be addressed in just one day.
Castro called Duterte’s remark as “absolutely preposterous,” adding that the Marcos Jr. administration respects due process and human rights in the conduct of its probe.
“Ang Pangulong Marcos Jr. [ay] hindi po siya nagsasagawa ng imbestigasyon ala-tokhang way,” she said, citing a news report in November 2020 where former President Rodrigo Duterte admitted that “ghost” projects were “rampant” during the time.
Malacañang likewise defended the administration’s efforts in uncovering the anomalies in the implementation of flood mitigation projects, noting that Marcos himself visited some locations of questionable projects to personally check on the situation.
“Wala pa pong Pangulo sa history na gumawa ng ganitong malawakang pag-iimbestiga sa mga maanomalyang flood control projects,” Casto said.
“Muli, ang pang-iimbestigang ito ay para sa taumbayan, hindi para sa pamumulitika. Ginagawa ito ng Pangulo kahit tatamaan ang kaniyang administrasyon,” she added.
-av
