Update on Lowered Proposed DPWH Budget for 2026 amid the Corruption Issues
PROPOSED DPWH BUDGET FOR 2026 – The Department of Public Works and Highways’ proposed fund includes P100-million Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses or MOOE budget each for 18 regions in the Philippines.
Countless Filipinos called for accountability from the government amid the supposed multi-billion flood control corruption. Several officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways were tagged in the supposed flood control scam.
Pres. Bongbong Marcos has previously ordered a sweeping review on the proposed DPWH budget for 2026. The department earned massive criticisms from the public. Aside from the public work officials, several congressmen and some senators and former senators were tagged in the corruption issue.
Following the bicameral conference committee’s session, DPWH chief Vince Dizon previously confirmed that the approved proposed budget for the department is over P300 billion lower. Meanwhile, he assured that the fund will be used on the right allocations.
The proposed DPWH budget for 2026 includes the P2.49 billion for the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses or the MOOE flood control-related projects like the drainage systems, structures, and other related facilities. Based on a report on GMA News, each of the 18 regions including the National Capital Region (NCR), the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) are poised to get P100-million MOOE each.
The proposed DPWH budget for 2026 also includes the P690-million budget allocation for the maintenance and the operating expenses of the nationwide flood-control projects including the following;
- Agno flood control structures worth P50 million
- Laoag River Basin flood control structures worth P50 million
- CAMANAVA / Valenzuela-Obando-Meycauayan flood control structures worth P50 million
- Pinatubo Hazard Urgent Mitigation Project (PHUMP) Structures worth P30 million
- Flood Control and Sabo Engineering Center worth P10 million
- Post-Ondoy and Pepeng Short Term Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project (POPSTIRP) structures worth P30 million
- Desilting, Dredging, and Cleaning of Waterways worth P100 million
- Manila Bay Rehabilitation based on Supreme Court Mandamus order worth P30 million
- Pampanga Delta Development Project structures worth P30,000,000 million
- Manggahan flood control structures worth P50 million
- Third River flood control structures worth P30 million
- Flood Risk Management Project Structures for Cagayan River, Tagoloan River, and Imus River worth P30 million
- Iloilo flood control structures worth P50 million
- Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project structures worth P50 million
- Lower Agusan flood control structures worth P50 million
- Esteros Improvement/ Maintenance in NCR worth P50 million
Based on the report, the proposed DPWH budget for 2026 does not include budget allocations for new flood control projects. Part of the budget is the MOOE for public buildings, regional support, and testing materials in bridge, road, and building construction. This January, the DPWH is set to start its massive recruitment in line with its reform efforts.