Ched Rick Gatchalian

Article (news)

DPWH chief admits lack of confidence in 2026 budget efficiency

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon admitted on Wednesday that the agency is facing serious challenges in reviewing its proposed 2026 budget after being given just a week to “clean up” a spending plan that took six months to prepare.</p><p>“I’ve only been here for two weeks, and I’m being asked to do an impossible task of cleaning up a budget that was already made for the last six months,” Dizon told reporters in an ambush interview following the House Committee on Appropriations budget hearing.</p><p>The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) chief stressed that while he could not guarantee the full efficiency of the spending plan, he will ensure transparency and close monitoring of project implementation.</p><p>“If you ask me, am I 100 percent confident? Of course I’m not. But what I can commit is pagdating sa bidding, pagdating sa procurement, pagdating sa monitoring ng implementation, ‘yan talaga ay babantayan na natin,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1968280539615596932&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2025-09-17T13%3A53%3A42.085191%3Aa8e2672c-3604-4b20-96e3-6d6125e6b06a%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=4b8a7b3f542d104adf7995492b73a842912e9f2f&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:550px;height:624px;display:block;flex-grow:1" data-tweet-id="1968280539615596932"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><p>He explained that the budget revisions were guided by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to scrap all locally funded flood control projects, address duplications, and remove allocations for projects that were already completed.</p><p>The DPWH chief added that the proposed 2026 budget was already significantly cut under the President’s orders.</p><p>“Nakita niyo, iyong total P252.5 billion [for flood control projects] ay wala na sa budget,” he said, referring to the removal of all locally funded flood control allocations.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/17/dpwh-s-revised-2026-budget-proposal-slashed-by-p255-billion-following-review-0857"><strong>DPWH&#x27;s revised 2026 budget proposal slashed by P255B following review</strong></a></div><p>Dizon clarified, however, that flood control initiatives are not being abandoned altogether. </p><p>Instead, projects will focus on foreign-assisted efforts and practical measures like dredging and clearing waterways. </p><p>“Hindi naman po ibig sabihin na zero ang flood control budget ng locally funded flood control project sa 2026. Meron pa rin tayong pwedeng gawin,” he said. </p><p>Looking forward, Dizon admitted that deeper reforms in the budget process could only be implemented in the 2027 cycle. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SOLON PROTESTS ZERO BUDGET FOR CDO BYPASS ROADS</strong> </div><p>Meanwhile, Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez protested the zero budget for bypass roads in his district under the 2026 DPWH proposal.</p><p>“Mr. Secretary, you slashed [the budget] these bypass roads which are important to be able to have our city survive and breed, and be able to have flow of goods,” Rodriguez argued during the hearing. </p><p>Dizon acknowledged that some critical projects were inadvertently affected by the budget cleansing.</p><p>“Tingin ko ang explanation sa akin, parang nadamay iyong kay Congressman Rufus [Rodriguez] doon sa pinag-iisipan na phasing na naka-chop-chop na mga proyekto. Pero kung critical naman ‘yan, kailangan mapondohan naman ‘yan,” he said.</p><p>Dizon assured lawmakers that Congress will still have the opportunity to make adjustments during deliberations.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/9/16/dizon-lifts-suspension-on-procurement-for-locally-funded-civil-works-1556"><strong>DPWH chief Dizon lifts suspension on procurement for locally-funded civil works</strong></a></div>

<p>Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon admitted on Wednesday that the agency is facing serious challenges in reviewing its proposed 2026 budget after being given just a week to “clean up” a spending plan that took six months to prepare.</p>

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon admitted on Wednesday that the agency is facing serious challenges in reviewing its proposed 2026 budget after being given just a week to “clean up” a spending plan that took six months to prepare.

Dizon not 100% confident in proposed DPWH budget but promises close watch on projects

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Business

Dizon not 100% confident in proposed DPWH budget but promises close watch on projects

Francis Orcio,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 17, 2025 09:13 PM PHT

Read More:

Vince Dizon

DPWH

Department of Public Works and Highways

Flood control projects

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.