Lacson: DPWH official approached a senator for budget insertions

A Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official has asked a lawmaker to make an insertion in the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP), Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said Sunday.

Speaking to Super Radyo dzBB, Lacson revealed that Senate Minority Leader Tito Sotto III’s staff allegedly received a call from DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, asking for an insertion.

“Sasabihin ko na, si ‘Undersecretary Cabral’ daw ang tumawag sa kanyang staff at sinabing magsingit kayo dito ng gusto n’yong isingit. E ‘di wala na. Kung isa si Sen. Sotto na in-offer-an, sino pa ang na-offer-an ng ganoon at sino ang nag-submit?” Lacson said.

(‘Undersecretary Cabral’ was said to have reached out to Sotto’s staff and told them to insert what they wanted to insert. If Sen. Sotto was one of those called by that official, who else could have been contacted similarly and submitted their proposed insertions?)

Cabral serves as DPWH undersecretary for planning, public-private partnership, and information management services, according to the agency’s website.

In a separate dzBB interview, Sotto confirmed Lacson’s remarks, saying that someone relayed Cabral’s offer to him.

LIVE sa DZBB: Sen. @sotto_tito, Senate Minority Leader

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— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) September 7, 2025

“Tama yung sinabi ni Senator Lacson, may nakapagpasabi sa akin. Tinatanong ako kung interesado akong mag-submit para sa NEP. Ang sabi ko, ‘Hindi’,” Sotto said.

(Lacson is right; someone asked me if I’m interested in making insertions in the NEP. I declined their offer.)

“Ang itsura nun parang nag-i-insert ako sa NEP. Kahit kailan hindi ko ginawa yun. Ang tagal ko na sa Senado, kahit kailan hindi ko ginawa yun. Bakit nila maiisip na gagawin ko yun?” Sotto said.

(It’s going to look like I’m making an insertion in the NEP. I have never done that. I’ve been here in the Senate for a long time, and I have never done that. Why would they think I will do it?)

GMA News Online has reached out to Cabral and DPWH for comments, but she has yet to reply as of this posting.

During a Sept. 1 Senate hearing, Cabral said she could not confirm if there are ghost projects since she’s unaware of DPWH’s operations.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has disclosed that 20% of the total P545 billion budget of flood control projects was awarded to only 15 contractors, five of which have projects in almost all regions nationwide.

On Friday, the House appropriations panel deferred the deliberations on the proposed P880 billion budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways for next year to give the agency time to submit errata or corrections.

Of DPWH’s budget for 2025, P268 billion is allocated to fund flood control projects in the country, which accounts for over 32% of the agency's budget for next year.

Newly-installed DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the agency’s budget should be reduced since some infrastructure projects have been completed but still funded, or are unnecessary in some areas. — RF, GMA Integrated News