Bicam approves P529.6-B DPWH budget for 2026

MANILA, Philippines – The bicameral conference committee approved a P529.6-billion budget for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for 2026 on Thursday, December 18, much lower than what the agency had asked for.

The DPWH had sought an P881-billion budget for 2026, according to the National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted to Congress. This 21% lower than the agency’s approved budget for 2025, as the DPWH faces scrutiny over alleged irregularities in flood control projects.

A look at past budget cycles under the Marcos administration shows that the agency’s final allocation usually ends up larger than what it has originally proposed — in 2025, the DPWH’s proposed budget of P898.9 billion under the NEP was later increased to P1.12 trillion in the approved General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Budget realignments and adjustments are common during the congressional review of the NEP. Lawmakers can increase or reallocate funds, though such changes have recently raised concerns about insertions and transparency.

During President Ferdinand Marcos’ fourth State of the Nation Address, he warned Congress that he would “return any proposed General Appropriations Bill that is not fully aligned with the National Expenditure Program.” 

Here is a timeline of the DPWH budget deliberations:

September 5

The House appropriations panel wrapped up its DPWH budget hearing in just around three hours, relatively short for a high-profile agency under intense scrutiny. 

Panel chair Nueva Ecija 1st District Representative Mika Suansing said the chamber’s goal was to give the DPWH more time to review its 2026 budget, as the agency revises its proposal following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’ order to “make necessary corrections.”

Earlier this week, Marcos tapped Vince Dizon, former transportation chief, to lead the DPWH after Secretary Manuel Bonoan’s resignation.

During the hearing, Suansing clarified that the House leadership decided not to return the NEP to the executive, but will accept revisions from the DPWH as it reviews red flags in the 2026 budget proposal, such as double entries.

The panel directed the DPWH to submit its revised budget by September 12, ahead of its next hearing no later than September 16. 

September 10

The committee on Wednesday, September 10, extended the deadline for the revised budget to Monday, September 15. The budget deliberations for DPWH, meanwhile, will be set for Wednesday, September 17.

October 13

The House of Representatives approved a P624.48-billion budget for the DPWH for 2026, significantly lower compared to the P881-billion allocation from NEP.

October 20

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian flagged P271 billion worth of questionable items in the DPWH revised 2026 budget proposal. Gatchalian saw duplicated projects, projects with no station numbers or specific details like location, projects split into multiple phases, and projects that reappeared in the 2026 National Expenditure Program from the 2025 General Appropriations Act.

December 9

The Senate slashed the proposed DPWH budget, cutting the House’s P624.48-billion allocation down to P570 billion.

December 14

Dizon made a last-minute appeal to the bicameral conference committee (bicam) to restore the nearly P54 billion deducted from DPWH’s budget due to the reduction in Construction Materials Price Data (CMPD).

December 15

The supposed third day of the bicam was postponed. The two chambers of Congress were divided on whether to push through with the bicam deliberations or not. 

Gatchalian postponed the bicam, saying discussions on the proposed DPWH budget had reached a “deadlock.”

House appropriations committee chairperson Mika Suansing, however, said the House wanted to proceed with the third day of the bicam to stick to the original timeline. 

December 18

After delays, the bicam agreed to allot P529.6 billion budget for DPWH on Thursday morning, December 18. This is lower compared to the House’s allocation of P624.48 billion and the Senate’s P570 billion.

Taking into account the new CMPD, Gatchalian said that the government saved at least  P20.7 billion. Of this amount, P16.52 billion was reallocated to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, while P4.25 billion was transferred to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management. 

– Rappler.com