Senate postpones bicam over 'deadlock' on DPWH 2026 budget —Gatchalian

The Senate on Monday postponed the third day of the bicameral conference committee meeting on the proposed 2026 national budget over a "deadlock" on the allocation of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate finance committee, made the announcement as he stood firm that the upper chamber is against the use of overpriced construction materials for government infrastructure projects in 2026.

"After the caucus, ang sabi namin i-postpone muna ang bicam today para ma-resolba ang issue with the House and the DPWH,'' Gatchalian told reporters.

(After the caucus, we decided to postpone the bicam today to resolve the issues with the House and the DPWH.)

"At least sa side ng Senate. Tinawagan ko ang ating counterpart at sinabi ko ang desisyon ng Senado. Ang Senado kasi ay very firm, ayaw namin ng overpriced items," he said.

(That's our decision at least from the Senate side. I called my counterpart and informed him of our decision. The Senate is very firm against overpriced items.)

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

Gatchalian explained the adjustment on the prices of the materials was based on the Construction Materials Price Data (CMPD) the DPWH submitted to the Senate, which yielded reductions of around P45 billion in the agency's proposed budget.

"Ang nagiging issue lang ngayon, 'yung adjustment factor, sinasabi ng DPWH baka hindi pwedeng i-apply dahil iba-iba ang situation sa iba't ibang proyekto," the lawmaker said.

(The issue is the DPWH is now saying the adjustment factor may not be applicable to all projects.)

Over the weekend, the DPWH appealed to the Senate to restore amounts deducted from the agency’s proposed 2026 budget due to reductions based on the CMPD.

"We can call it a deadlock on that aspect pero naghahanap tayo ng solution. Ako, committed ako maghanap ng solution. Sabi ko nga, makikipagtrabaho ako with DPWH, para makita natin kung ano ang solution," Gatchalian said.

(We can call it a deadlock on that aspect but we're finding a solution. I am committed to finding a solution. I am open to working with the DPWH.)

"Ang gusto natin to move forward. I am open to working with the House and the DPWH," the senator said.

(We want to move forward. I am open to working with House and the DPWH.)

The bicameral conference committee convened on Saturday to reconcile the disagreeing provisions of the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026.—AOL, GMA Integrated News