THE House Committee on Appropriations, chaired by Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing, on Friday postponed deliberations on the proposed ₱881-billion budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for fiscal year 2026, pending the submission of revised proposals from both the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the DPWH by September 12.
ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima raised the twin motions to suspend the hearing on the DPWH budget proposal, as well as direct the DBM and the DPWH to submit new proposals and revisions to it, after observing that DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon was having difficulty answering many of the questions posed by committee members during the hearing.
“You heard the questions so far, and quite understandable the good secretary is finding it difficult in answering many questions. Again understandable, sinabi ng secretary siya mismo naguguluhan, siya mismo ay sumasakit ang ulo dahil sa pag review ng budget ng DPWH. So at this point, I’m compelled to present a motion for this committee to direct the DBM and DPWH to submit any errata, any amendment, any new proposals, any new provisions with respect to the DPWH budget (proposal),” De Lima said.
She highlighted that the appropriations committee has every right to compel the DBM and DPWH because the panel already lawfully acquired jurisdiction over the budget under the National Expenditure Program (NEP).
“Kaya nga po sinabi ko po kanina para sa akin it would be constitutionally, practically, and procedurally problematic kapag natuloy yung unang mungkahi na ibabalik in its entirety the NEP to the executive. We cannot at this point decline our jurisdiction, kasi yung jurisdiction po over the budget ng House nandito na po sa amin. We cannot be seen or perceived to be declining or worse, abdicating our constitutional duty to pass the budget, kasi nasa amin (na), alam ito ng lahat. Nasa amin po ang sole and exclusive power of the purse. So ang susunod pagka-submit nung NEP is mag deliberate and then amendments kung meron, then passage of the GAB before enactment as GAA. Yun po ang tamang proseso,” De Lima said.
Suansing asked Dizon if the DPWH is amenable to a deadline of Sept. 12 for the submission of new proposals and revisions for the DPWH budget proposal. Dizon agreed to the deadline.
Suansing said the proposals and revisions will be subjected to further deliberations and scrutiny by the committee on appropriations.
“We want to reassure members of this chamber as well as the public that once the DPWH submits the revised budget it will be closely scrutinized and deliberated on by the Committee on Appropriations on a later date. I will put it in the context of the committee deliberations, which at the moment we are scheduled to end Sept. 16, so that we can move to the plenary thereafter. So in light of that, we hope to schedule the next hearing of the DPWH (budget) within that week of Sept. 15 and 16,” she said.
In her opening remarks, Suansing said their mandate to build resilient infrastructure, ensure public safety and uplift communities has never been more critical and more urgent.
“In the wake of devastating typhoons, and intense monsoon rains, flawed or incomplete projects have caused immeasurable human suffering and disrupted lives across the country. This year’s allocation of P249 billion for flood control has come under intense scrutiny. triggered by alarming revelations of ghost projects, substandard execution and over concentration of contracts among a few entities,” she said.
She said potential irregularities found in the 2026 NEP were raised by both the House and the Senate.
She urged everyone to approach Friday’s hearing with candor, integrity, and urgency as well as critically evaluate the following 1) structural reforms needed in the DPWH to guarantee accountability and responsiveness; 2) overhaul of the 2026 DPWH budget in the NEP to ensure projects and funding go to where they are most needed; and 3) how to ensure only critical flood control projects will be funded.
“Let us take out the subjectiveness on project identification. Let us ensure that all projects are based on feasibility studies and facts. Let us use the science-based approach,” Suansing said.
Dizon said two things made him decide to heed the request of President Marcis Jr. to be the DPWH Secretary.
“Ang una niyang sinabi kailangang linisin from top to bottom ang DPWH. Tuloy tuloy ang pag review ng organizational structure. Pangalawang direktiba, kailangan po natin ng sweeping reforms sa loob ng DPWH,” he said.
About the Author
