Ched Rick Gatchalian

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DPWH budget may be cut by P80 billion: Gatchalian

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATED) - The Senate Subcommittee on Finance approved on Monday the proposed 2026 budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) amounting to P625 billion, but Finance Committee Chairperson Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said another P80 billion may possibly be slashed from this, depending on DPWH’s submissions.Some of these submissions include the revised cost of materials and estimated potential savings for 2026, which DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon committed to providing. Gatchalian previously estimated that P348 billion could be removed from the department’s budget, but now said the amount could be lower. The P80 billion includes overpriced items.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/20/gatchalian-says-p271-b-red-flags-in-2026-dpwh-budget-2019">Gatchalian says P271-B &#x27;red flags&#x27; in 2026 DPWH budget</a></div>“Ang nakikita naming mababawasan diyan yung 50% na overpriced na sinabi ng President. Ang figure ni Presidente 45 billion, sa amin is about 74 billion. So maglalaro doon yung pagbawas namin. Plus meron pang sa DA, yung farm-to-market 8 billion, tapos meron pang mga doble-doble nakita kami na hindi nila ma-justify talaga,” Gatchalian explained after Monday’s budget hearing. He added that the farm-to-market (FMR) road allocation of P8 billion is not in the master plan. “Kasi kung wala sa master plan diyan nagkakaroon ng problema eh, diyan nagkakaroon ng overpricing, diyan nagkakaroon ng other works. So importante na nasa master plan para nai-inspect na ng DA,” Gatchalian remarked.  He said the Department of Agriculture (DA) will have an option if it wants to build the FMRs or if it will leave it to the DPWH or local government units.The DPWH budget will still undergo plenary consideration.

The Senate Subcommittee on Finance approved on Monday the proposed 2026 budget of the DPWH amounting to P625 billion, but Finance Committee Chairperson Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said another P80 billion may possibly be slashed from this, depending on DPWH’s submissions.

The Senate Subcommittee on Finance approved on Monday the proposed 2026 budget of the DPWH amounting to P625 billion, but Finance Committee Chairperson Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said another P80 billion may possibly be slashed from this, depending on DPWH’s submissions.

Senate panel OKs DPWH proposed budget but may still be cut by P80B

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Senate panel OKs DPWH proposed budget but may still be cut by P80B

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 27, 2025 07:24 PM PHT

|

Updated Oct 27, 2025 09:59 PM PHT

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Department of Public Works and Highways

DPWH

Finance

2026 Budget

Win Gatchalian

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