Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday revealed that as much as ₱348 billion could once again be slashed from the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) proposed 2026 budget.
The department’s budget has already been reduced from ₱881.31 billion to ₱625.75 billion, but Gatchalian said the Senate Committee on Finance— which he chairs—found more red flags that could justify another round of cuts.
During a budget hearing, the senator bared troubling findings involving over 6,000 projects worth more than ₱271 billion, flagged for irregularities such as:
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Missing or incorrect station numbers
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Duplicate or overlapping projects
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Multiple phases without proper breakdowns
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Projects that reappeared from the 2025 budget into the 2026 proposal
“These are serious red flags,” Gatchalian said. “If we add the possible overpricing—about 20% across-the-board—the total questionable amount could reach ₱348 billion.”
He clarified that the amount is not yet final, but said the committee’s initial estimates point to a huge chunk of the DPWH budget being at risk of removal.
“So, if their budget is around ₱600 billion plus,” he explained, “and we take out around ₱340 billion, only about ₱350 billion will remain.”
Billions in Questionable Projects
Gatchalian broke down the committee’s findings:
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4,566 projects worth ₱201.27 billion have no station numbers
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40 projects worth ₱1.09 billion were duplicates
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42 projects worth ₱2.69 billion have multiple phases
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946 projects worth ₱14.45 billion were reappearing entries from last year’s budget
He also cited reports of overcosting by more than 1,000% in some projects—figures that raise serious concerns about transparency and accountability.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon was directed to submit by next week all supporting documents and explanations for the anomalies.
Where the Savings Will Go
Gatchalian said if the ₱348 billion in questionable items is removed, the Senate may reallocate the amount to replace unprogrammed funds—a budget category often criticized for its lack of clarity and oversight.
“If that ₱348 billion is realized, that’s what we’ll use to replace the unprogrammed funds,” he said. “That means we won’t need to keep a separate unprogrammed budget anymore.”
The senator has been a consistent advocate for scrapping unprogrammed funds, saying they open the door to unchecked spending and potential misuse of public money.
Budget Talks Suspended
For now, the Senate Committee on Finance has suspended further deliberations on the DPWH budget until October 27, pending submission of the required documents.
As the government continues to crack down on irregularities in infrastructure projects, Gatchalian’s move signals a firm stand against wasteful and questionable spending—reminding every public office that every peso of the people’s money must be accounted for.
