Leviste: Canceling, repricing DPWH projects to yield P400-B savings

The national government will be able to save some P400 billion should the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) cancel or reprice its existing and planned infrastructure projects for 2026 worth P1.6 trillion, a neophyte lawmaker said on Friday.

In a statement, Batangas First District Representative Leandro Leviste called on the DPWH to legally terminate and recalculate the Detailed Unit Price Analysis (DUPA) of some ongoing projects currently at P1 trillion, and planned programs at P600 billion for next year.

Leviste said the government would save billions of pesos by pursuing these.

The DPWH, he added, may legally cancel infrastructure if proponents are found guilty of fraud.

"Matapos ang lahat ng pagdinig at protesta laban sa korapsyon sa DPWH, kailangan nating tandaan na may higit P1 trillion pang mga proyekto na isinasagawa at may P600 billion pang nakaplano na maaari pang gawan ng aksyon ng DPWH: gamitin ang mga legal na batayan upang ikansela ang mga kontrata at ibaba ang DUPA, para makatipid ng P400 Bilyon mula sa P1.6 Trilyon na proyekto," said Leviste.

(After the hearings and protests against corruption within the DPWH, we need to remember that they are handling over P1 trillion for their projects. They also have P600 billion worth of planned projects next year. The DPWH still has an option: Cancel the contractors and lower the DUPA so the government can save up to P400B.)

"Higit P1B kada araw o P30B kada buwan ang ginagastos ng DPWH sa mga overpriced na proyekto," he said.

(The DPWH spent over P1B every day or P30B per month on overpriced projects.)

Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson expressed support for Leviste's call, saying the P400 billion in savings may help ease the government's debt burden.

"Neophyte Cong. Leviste should be listened to and taken seriously. He surely knows how to compute. P400B in savings to bridge our budget deficit will help ease our debt burden," Lacson said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

"We should be horrified by (the outrage over corruption that) happened. Let's not allow the problem to linger. Let us also help find ways to bring down our debt because our debt has grown so big," added Lacson, chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee investigating the flood control corruption scandal. — VDV, GMA Integrated News