By Brian Campued
Pursuant to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive for a sweeping review of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) proposed budget for 2026, DPWH Sec. Vince Dizon announced that he and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Sec. Amenah Pangandaman had agreed to finish the review within two weeks.
During a press conference at the DBM office in Manila on Wednesday, Dizon said he welcomes the President’s directive following concerns raised by lawmakers about possible duplications and inconsistencies in the projects under the DPWH’s spending plan.
“Tingin ko lang kailangan meron itong deadline kasi limitado ang ating oras. Importanteng mapasa natin itong budget na ito. Hindi lang ito budget ng DPWH kundi budget ng buong gobyerno,” Dizon said.
“Nag-usap kami ni Secretary Mina, we both agreed on a two-week timeline. Dalawang linggo maximum, puwedeng mas maiksi. Kailangang pagtrabahuhan nang maigi, pupukpukin natin ang DPWH at ating mga kasamahan doon para magkaroon tayo ng honest to goodness review,” he added.
The newly appointed DPWH chief likewise stressed that he needs to thoroughly study how the DPWH allocates budget for its thousands of projects as he is still “unfamiliar” with the process, noting that the DPWH’s spending plan for next year consists of about 700 pages.
“Iga-guide tayo ng ating secretary ng [DBM] kung papaano ang proseso, kung papaano ang proseso ng pagrerebisa, kung papaano ang proseso ng pagrerepaso, [o] pagbabago,” Dizon said.
“Tingin ko hindi naman kailangan isa-isahin lahat, mag-uumpisa tayo sa mga nakita ng ating mambabatas… 2026 budget ang pinag-uusapan natin… dapat ang mga proyekto na gagawin natin ay dapat masimulan at substantially matapos, kung ‘di man makumpleto, matapos sa 2026,” he added.
Meanwhile, Pangandaman committed to providing all the necessary documents, data, and technical assistance to make the review faster, efficient, accurate, and more transparent.
“[We will] make use of technology para makita ‘yong mga—’pag sinubmit sa amin, ‘pag may doble dyan, ‘pag may mali dyan, isang click lang makikita mo, magre-red na ‘yan… so ibabalik namin sa kanila ‘yan,” she explained.
“Internally, to DPWH, kailangan sila din on their own, may tamang proseso din siguro naman sila ng pagpaplano at pag-identify ng mga proyekto… binigay ko na sa kanila lahat ng naging issues, I’m sure lahat ng ‘yan ay matutugunan ng DPWH moving forward,” she added.
Once the review has been completed, necessary changes as well as an updated list of projects will be submitted to Congress to ensure that every peso in the people’s budget is accounted for and directed toward programs that truly benefit Filipinos.
“Ipapadala natin sa kanila ‘yong bagong listahan, ‘yong mga changes na mangyayari doon, sa tingin po namin mas madali ‘yon na proseso at procedure kaysa magbalikan tayong ganyan,” Pangandaman said.
She added that while the DBM is ready for a reenacted budget, the Executive Branch is “very much willing” to work with Congress to ensure a proper spending plan.
“Dito naman sa DBM, ready. Ginagawa na nila ‘yong guidelines assuming na magkaroon tayo ng reenacted budget. Pero siyempre diba nga sinabi nga natin ang reenacted budget, magko-cause ng downturn ng ating ekonomiya, especially now nakikita natin ang malaking contribution ng ating budget sa ating ekonomiya. Ayaw naman natin mawala ‘yon, ayaw naman nating masira ‘yong trajectory natin,” the DBM chief said.
-jpv
