Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

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

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NEP- DBM- DPWH

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175807046830320250903-dbm-dpwh-presscon-pangandaman-dizon-MT15.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman and 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</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) -- Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon presented to Congress on Wednesday a P625.8 billion budget proposal for 2026, the lowest since 2020, after the slashing of billions worth of flood control projects.</p><p>The agency’s initial budget request was P881.3 billion but that was cut down by nearly 29 percent or by P255 billion.</p><p>Dizon said the significant reduction can be owed to the P252 billion worth of locally-funded flood control projects which were scrapped. Another P3 billion worth of projects earlier flagged by lawmakers were also cut.</p><p>&quot;We have tried our best to remove the following: duplicate projects, completed projects that are still receiving funding for 2026, overlapping sections in road projects… at yun pong projects tulad ng rock netting, cat’s eye, road studs etc,&quot; he said.</p><p>This is part of a sweeping effort to rid the agency of corruption amid the flood control scandal.</p><p>&quot;We need to tell the people that we will clean this up and we will clean this up now,&quot; said Dizon.</p><p>He added that the P255 billion originally meant for flood control projects may now be reallocated to other programs and projects, particularly for agriculture, education, healthcare, housing, labor, social welfare, and information technology.</p><p>But several lawmakers raised the same concern: what happens now to flood-prone communities still in need of protection?</p><p>&quot;Aalisin natin yung pondo ng flood control, yung mga matitinong flood control na matagal nang hinintay ng mga kababayan natin, matagal nang pinagplanuhan ng DPWH? Unfair naman yun. The people will suffer from the shenanigans of the previous Congress,&quot; said Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/17/ex-dpwh-engineers-alcantara-hernandez-lose-driver-s-licenses-for-using-fake-ones-at-casino-1957">READ: Ex-DPWH engineers Alcantara, Hernandez lose driver&#x27;s licenses for using fake ones at casino</a></div><p>Dizon assured them that there are still some funds left from the 2024 and 2025 budgets that can be used to continue and fast-track ongoing flood control projects, especially in critical areas.</p><p>He added that P15.7 billion worth of foreign-assisted flood control projects, or those co-funded by multilateral agencies like the Asian Development Bank, were also retained.</p><p>As for dredging and desilting programs, Dizon said this can be funded through the DPWH’s P16 billion operational expenditure budget.</p><p>For Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co, removing the flood control projects is not enough, saying: &quot;Yung paraan para mangurakot nandyan pa kaya kailangan talaga may pagbabago sa sistema.&quot;</p><p>In response, Dizon noted that he has already come out with a department order that requires a stricter compliance of anti-corruption safeguards during the procurement process— from the bidding to the awarding of projects. </p><p>&quot;These are already existing under present laws. (They) include livestreaming of procurement, banning splitting of contracts, rules against collusion, signing of sworn disclosure or relations and beneficial ownership… Kahit sinong mahuli na &#x27;di ginagawa kahit isa man lang dito para i-protect integrity ng procuremnt process, madi-dimiss at makakasuhan ng either administrative or criminal charges,&quot; he said.</p><p>He also vowed to improve their project monitoring system.</p><p>And in the next budget cycle, Dizon stressed that only well-planned, science-based projects reflecting the real needs of communities will be approved.</p><p>&quot;Reset po tayo. At sa 2027 budget, gagawin na natin ang tama… Dapat po manggaling na talaga sa ibaba yung plano— mula sa ating local development council, papunta sa provincial development council, papunta sa regional development councils,&quot; he said.</p><p>Meanwhile, Cagayan De Oro 2nd District Representative Rufus Rodriguez questioned why bypass roads in his province lost funding.</p><p>&quot;Mr. Secretary, your team slashed these bypass roads which are important to our city to help our city survive, and breathe, and (facilitate) the flow of goods. You have removed package 11 and 12, nawala na!&quot; he exclaimed.</p><p>Dizon promised to review this.</p><p>&quot;Mukhang ang nangyari ay nasama po siya sa paglilinis dahil it was looked at as multiple packages… We will find a way to restore this,&quot; he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/17/-silence-is-complicity-ust-speaks-out-against-flood-control-fiasco-1506">READ: UST speaks out against flood control fiasco</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>NO MORE CONSTANT ROAD REBLOCKINGS?</strong></div><p>Dizon is also looking at halting constant road reblocking initiatives so that funds can instead be redirected to the construction of more roads, bridges, and other priority projects such as the rehabilitation of the Maharlika Highway.</p><p>&quot;Nakikita natin at nagtataka tayo bakit may kalye na ginigiba tapos ginagawa ulit? At para sakin, kung kulang ang budget ng DPWH, e dapat wag na munang gawin yan at mag-focus na lang tayo doon sa pagpapagawa ng mga kalye na kailangan gawin… Dapat yung mga sira at kailangan nating ipaayos, yun muna ang gawin,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div></div>

<p>DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon particularly cited the agriculture, education, healthcare, housing, labor, social welfare, and information technology sectors as possible recipients of the reallocated funds. </p>

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon particularly cited the agriculture, education, healthcare, housing, labor, social welfare, and information technology sectors as possible recipients of the reallocated funds.

DPWH's revised 2026 budget proposal slashed by P255B following review

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DPWH's revised 2026 budget proposal slashed by P255B following review

ABS-CBN News

Published September 17, 2025 08:57 AM PHT

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Updated September 17, 2025 10:49 PM PHT

Read More:

DPWH

2026 budget

flood control

politics

Department of Public Works and Highways

Vince Dizon

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