Camille Naredo

Newly appointed DPWH Secretary Vince B. Dizon hold a press conference at the Department of Budget and Management headquarters in Manila on September 3, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman and newly appointed DPWH Secretary Vince B. Dizon hold a press conference at the Department of Budget and Management headquarters in Manila on September 3, 2025. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed both agencies to conduct an extensive review of the DPWH budget under the proposed 2026 National Expenditure Program to ensure transparency, accountability, and the efficient use of infrastructure funds. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN Newsuntability, and maximizing the efficient use of infrastructure funds. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

NEP- DBM- DPWH

Andrea Taguines

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175752554930420250903-dbm-dpwh-presscon-pangandaman-dizon-MT7.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Newly appointed DPWH Secretary Vince B. Dizon hold a press conference at the Department of Budget and Management headquarters in Manila on September 3, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/>Newly appointed DPWH Secretary Vince B. Dizon hold a press conference at the Department of Budget and Management headquarters in Manila on September 3, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA -- Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon admitted on Wednesday that he was surprised to see proof of Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral&#x27;s text message to a staff of Senate President Vicente Sotto III, asking if he had any priority projects he wanted to insert in the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) of the agency.This, after Cabral had earlier denied allegations linking her to the 2026 budget insertion.&quot;Nagulat din ako kasi nga categorical ang denial sa&#x27;kin ni Usec. Cabral nung kinausap niya ako. Sinabi niya never siya nag-reach out. Pero nung nilabas yung text message, nagpaliwanag siya sa&#x27;kin na nagtatanong lang siya kung meron daw ipo-propose,&quot; Dizon said.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/9/8/-she-denied-it-to-my-face-dizon-says-dpwh-usec-cabral-refutes-link-to-2026-budget-insertion-1303">READ: Dizon says DPWH Usec Cabral refutes link to 2026 budget insertion</a></div>Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chair Panfilo Lacson had released a screenshot of the Viber message supposedly sent by Cabral, which read in part: &quot;Sir baka po may priority po kayo 500 for now. para mavet ko po for redundancy, overlap, prior funding, correct location and alignment to national priorities and consistency with menu for local projects po… para masama ko po sa NEP sir.&quot;Lacson said the message was sent right after the 2025 midterm elections.&quot;Nakapag-take oath na si Tito Sen, nagpadala ng Viber message sa kanyang staff, nag-congratulate pagkatapos nag-ooffer na,&quot; he said during his privilege speech at the Senate.According to Dizon, the new DPWH team&#x27;s own investigation into the issue is underway as well.&quot;Kung merong wrongdoing ang kahit sino— whether a Usec, Asec, Director, Regional Director, District Engineer, Assistant DE, engineer— wala tayong sasantuhin dito,&quot; he said.ABS-CBN News has tried to get the side of Cabral on the matter directly, but she refused to comment.

Cabral had earlier denied allegations linking her to the 2026 budget insertion.

DPWH Usec. Cabral issued explanation after Sen. Lacson showed proof, says Dizon

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DPWH Usec. Cabral issued explanation after Sen. Lacson showed proof, says Dizon

Andrea Taguines,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 11, 2025 01:59 AM PHT

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Updated September 11, 2025 02:02 AM PHT

Read More:

DPWH

budget insertions

Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral

Vince Dizon

Panfilo Lacson

Tito Sotto

flood control

Department of Public Works and Highways

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