Rejecting return of DPWH budget, Palace instead bats for 'sweeping review'
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways’ budget will not be returned to the executive branch, Malacañang said Wednesday, September 3.
This was after senators deliberated how to handle the DPWH’s proposed 2026 allocations amid public outrage over allegations that the agency allowed fictitious projects to proliferate.
Sen. Bam Aquino proposed sending the DPWH budget back to the executive — a highly unusual step.
Sen. Loren Legarda, meanwhile, suggested deleting the department’s budget entirely and replacing it with a supplemental appropriation.
Citing the Department of Budget and Management, Palace press officer Claire Castro said the budget “cannot be returned to them,” and that it was the president himself who ordered a review of the agency's proposed funding.
Castro added that there may be errata which would be declared, corrected, amended and, if necessary, removed — a process she said would allow Congress to readjust the budget.
She did not provide a timeline for the review but said newly appointed DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman would work to resolve equipment and budget issues promptly.
Sen. Aquino, citing the leadership shift and the breadth of the allegations, argued the Senate could not accept the budget as presented and urged returning it to the executive for reassessment.
DBM Secretary Pangandaman countered that the Constitution does not provide for such a maneuver.
Leadership shake-up. The proposed budget was drawn up under former DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan, who resigned on August 31. He was succeeded by then-transport secretary Vince Dizon, whose appointment came as the agency faced intensifying scrutiny.
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