House sets Sept. 12 deadline for DPWH budget, defers hearing

Metro Manila, Philippines - The House committee on appropriations gave the executive branch one week or until September 12 to submit the revised 2026 budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which is currently under review due to questionable items in the ₱880-billion proposal.

Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima made the motion during committee deliberations on the DPWH budget on Friday, Sept. 9.

“I move… to compel and direct DBM [Department of Budget and Management] and DPWH to submit within a proper period – perhaps one week or two weeks – any correction, any new proposals, any new entries in the DPWH budget,” De Lima said.

“As a consequence, I therefore move to defer or suspend the budget hearing of the proposed budget of the DPWH to a later date to be determined by the committee,” she added.

Both motions were approved without objection.

Committee chairperson and Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Mikaela Suansing noted that the next hearing should be held no later than September 16, the panel’s target to conclude committee deliberations and begin plenary debates

Prior to the suspension, newly-appointed DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon did not present the agency’s budget, requesting more time for a full review, but he answered lawmakers’ questions.

“Aaminin ko po sa inyo halos wala akong maintindihan sa gulo ng budget na nakikita ko [I’ll admit to you, I can barely understand the mess I'm seeing in the budget],” he said.

Dizon said the review will focus on flood control projects, which received a ₱268.3-billion allocation, amid an ongoing corruption scandal. He assured lawmakers that funding will be directed only to areas that truly need it.

He also vowed to eliminate budget items prone to corruption, such as rock netting, cat’s eyes or road studs, and repeated asphalt repairs.

Meanwhile, Dizon revealed that all DPWH officials — from the central office down to district offices — have submitted their courtesy resignations amid an agency-wide revamp he ordered due to alleged widespread corruption.