Palace supports DPWH call to restore budget

Malacañang on Monday backed the Department of Public Works and Highways' bid to restore cuts to its budget for fiscal year 2026.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said at a briefing that President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. is aware of the appeal of Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, in which the latter was asking to restore the P45 billion that was deducted, in order to implement the infrastructure projects.

''Opo, kung tutuusin po mayroon po kasing request na budget po ang DPWH at nagkataon po na itong budget po na ito ay binawasan po sa Senado,'' Castro answered when asked if the President was consulted on this matter.

(Yes, the DPWH had requested a budget and this was slashed by the Senate.)

''So ang hiling po ay hindi po matutupad o maiimplement, 'yung halos 10,000 projects kapag binawasan pa po nila 'yung budget na hinihiling ng DPWH,'' she added.

(The projects will not be implemented if the proposed budget is slashed.)

Dizon clarified that the agency is not requesting the restoration of infrastructure projects that were removed from the proposed 2026 budget, adding that the cost of project materials will decrease.

He made the clarification before the bicameral conference committee after the DPWH sought to restore funds that were deducted from its budget proposal due to reductions based on the Construction Materials Price Data (CMPD).

To recall, the Senate earlier slashed the DPWH’s proposed 2026 budget to P570.48 billion from P624.48 billion in the House of Representatives’ version.

Dizon, meanwhile, admitted that the DPWH has lost the public’s trust amid the anomalies in the flood control projects. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News