Bicam to slash DPWH 2026 budget amid flood control scandal —Gatchalian

The Bicameral Conference Committee is expected to reduce the proposed 2026 budget of the controversy-ridden Department of Public Works and Highways, Senate Committee on Finance chairperson Sherwin Gatchalian said. 

Gatchalian said this during an ambush interview after the bicameral conference panel concluded its first day of deliberations early Sunday morning — hours after the DPWH appealed for the restoration of its proposed budget due to reductions based on the construction materials price data. 

Gatchalian noted that the proposed budgets of several agencies and departments were increased during the Bicameral Conference Committee meeting, but such a fate may not be the same for the DPWH. 

“Later on, makikita rin natin may mga [budget] decreases na mangyayari. For example, sa flood control. Malaking decrease ‘yan…Within DPWH, marami rin mga decrease dahil hindi nagagamit ang pera,” he said. 

(Later on, we’ll see budget decreases. For example, a big decrease for flood control…Within DPWH, there will be decreases because the funds are not utilized.) 

The Bicameral Conference Committee will deliberate on DPWH's proposed budget for 2026 on Sunday. Day 2 of the deliberations will be livestreamed.

Days before the Bicameral Conference Committee deliberations started on Saturday, the Senate, on third and final reading, slashed the DPWH’s proposed 2026 budget to P570.48 billion from P624.48 billion in the House of Representatives’ version.

Gatchalian earlier explained the major amendments included the use of adjustment factors, following President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s directive to cut the cost of construction materials for government projects.

The President had ordered government agencies to reduce project costs amid the country’s massive flood control scandal, which revealed a widespread practice among DPWH engineers of inflating prices to accommodate so-called “commitments” or kickbacks, including those allegedly intended for lawmakers listed as project “proponents.” —KG, GMA Integrated News