Malacañang Speaks on Order of Pres. Bongbong Marcos for Review of 2026 Proposed Budget of DPWH
BONGBONG MARCOS – The President ordered for a “sweeping review” of the proposed budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for 2026.
The Department of Public Works and Highways received massive criticisms amid the issues of anomalous flood control projects in the country. Amid the issue, former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan resigned from his position and was replaced by Vince Dizon, the former secretary of the Department of Transportation.
Amid the DPWH being massively-criticized, new DPWH Sec. Vince Dizon confirmed that he will order the “courtesy resignation” of all officials of the agency nationwide. He also announced that he will abolish the internal investigation committee of the agency.
Amid the criticisms against the agency, the budget proposal of the DPWH for 2026 is also set to be under a sweeping review. It was the order of Pres. Bongbong Marcos amid the allegations of anomalies in the budget proposal.
House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno claimed that there were allegedly items in the National Expenditure Program for 2026 that seeks budget allocation for projects that are already “completed”. Amid the claims, Marcos Jr. mandated the Department of Bureau and Management (DBM) and the DPWH to review the budget proposal submitted by the agency while it was still under Bonoan.
Recently, Malacañang spoke on the order of Pres. Bongbong Marcos for a sweeping review of the proposed budget of the DPWH for 2026. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Palace press officer undersecretary Claire Castro said that the Chief Executive stressed that the review “must lead to the necessary changes to guarantee transparency, accountability and proper use of people’s money”.
According to the Malacañang press official, the review of the proposed budget will make it sure that “resources are directed toward infrastructure projects that genuinely served and benefit Filipino people”. Furthermore, based on the report, she stressed that it will determine whether or not there are indeed allocations or duplications in the budget proposal that have to be removed.
Atty. Claire Castro said that the changes in the proposed budget of the DPWH will be through the issuance of an errata. She assured that the DBM and the DPWH will really look into the matter.
“Ito po ay pag-aaralang mabuti kaya po ang DBM pati po ang DPWH ay bubusisiin po ito talaga kung totoo bang nagkaroon ng mga duplication, nagkaroon ng insertion, dapat po kasi matanggal ito through errata,” the Malacañang press official said.
Aside from abolishing the internal investigation committee of the agency, DPWH chief Vince Dizon also claimed that he will impose a “lifetime ban” against the contractors of ‘ghost’ flood control projects.