MANILA, Philippines — Division of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon has expressed openness to lowering the proposed P881.3-billion DPWH funds for 2026 as he vowed to assessment and proper questionable objects flagged by lawmakers.
Forward of the DPWH funds briefing earlier than the Home appropriations committee, Dizon yesterday stated he would ask for every week to scrutinize the company’s share within the Nationwide Expenditure Program (NEP).
“The President ordered me to assessment this, and if we have to change the complete DPWH funds, I’ll do it and inform Congress,” Dizon stated. “I’ll ask for time, even only one week, to assessment, repair and, if vital, cut back the funds.”
Home deputy speaker and Antipolo Rep. Ronaldo Puno earlier famous that the 2026 NEP included allocations for infrastructure tasks already accomplished, whereas some persevering with flood management tasks didn’t obtain funding.
Dizon admitted that the lawmakers’ considerations have been “legitimate” and guaranteed them that these can be addressed.
“If it’s accomplished, it shouldn’t be funded. There ought to be no double entries. That’s why I’ll ask time from the appropriations committee,” he stated. “As a lot as doable, the crimson flags identified by Congress shall be erased.”
Funds withheld
The DPWH has withheld fee to contractors, led by Wawao Builders and SYMS Development Buying and selling, with pending tasks with the federal government.
Throughout the listening to of the Home committee on appropriations, Dizon instructed congressmen that he’s conducting a gathering with the DPWH’s operations division to thresh out plans that will not depart the federal government on the shedding finish with the non-payment to these contractors that have been perpetually disqualified by the company earlier.
“I ordered to carry the funds to these corporations if they’re ongoing tasks, however they’ve to complete the tasks which might be ongoing. We’ll speak within the operations division what shall be our system, what we’re going to do to proceed the undertaking,” Dizon stated.
He stated that for these accomplished tasks which turned out to be “ghosts tasks” and substandardly carried out, the one recourse of the federal government is to compel the contractors to pay for it.
“We is not going to settle for it similar to that. For these tasks which might be declared accomplished, however are literally not accomplished or ghost tasks or substandard, now we have to name within the warrantees, what would be the recourse of the federal government for the contractor to pay the tasks that they left,” Dizon stated. “It must be the contractors to reply to that.”
Alcantara to face felony raps
A dismissal was meted out instantly in opposition to former Bulacan 1st district engineer Henry Alcantara who was discovered responsible over anomalous flood management and infrastructure tasks.
Dizon stated Alcantara was discovered responsible of disloyalty to the Republic and the Filipino folks, grave misconduct, gross neglect of responsibility and conduct prejudicial to the perfect curiosity of the service.
Dizon additional introduced that the DPWH will suggest the submitting of felony prices in opposition to Alcantara and different people concerned “to deliver justice for the plunder of public funds.”
In a seven-page determination, Dizon stated Alcantara’s failure to guard public curiosity led to the total fee of “ghost” tasks – together with a bolstered concrete river wall in Baliuag, Bulacan and a flood management construction in Barangay Perez, Bulacan city – despite the fact that no precise undertaking had been accomplished.
The choice stemmed from a motu proprio criticism filed in August 2025 by then DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan, which led to Alcantara’s preventive suspension and investigation.
The ruling additionally imposed the penalty of dismissal from the service with perpetual disqualification from holding public workplace. “This determination is with out prejudice to the submitting of separate civil or felony prices in opposition to him and his co-conspirators,” the order said.
Dizon earlier recognized former assistant district engineer Bryce Ericson Hernandez, development part chief engineer Jaypee Mendoza and accountant Juanito Mendoza, all from the Bulacan 1st District Engineering Workplace, as subsequent to face administrative and doable felony instances.
DPWH information confirmed the contractor, Wawao Builders, had a revised contract value of P96.49 million for the Baliuag undertaking. It was declared accomplished in June 2024 and paid in July 2024, however inspection revealed that development solely started weeks in the past.
Dizon additionally ordered the perpetual blacklisting of Wawao Builders and stated the company is making ready to blacklist SYMS Development Buying and selling, contractor of one other flood management undertaking confirmed to be non-existent throughout a website go to by President Marcos.
Purple flags
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian yesterday warned the DPWH that the Senate would take away P270 billion price of flood management tasks if it doesn’t appropriate the “crimson flags” within the Nationwide Expenditure Program.
In a Zoom press briefing yesterday, Gatchalian stated the P270-billion funds for 4,000 flood management tasks – underneath the DPWH’s proposed 2026 funds of P881.3 billion – could also be realigned to training if discovered to be anomalous.
Among the many crimson flags are duplicitous or chopped-up undertaking quantities, obscure website areas and repeat appropriations for tasks which already obtained funding within the earlier outlay.
“As it’s proper now, if the funds plan stays this fashion, then we is not going to hesitate to take away the P270-billion DPWH flood management funds. The flood tasks now are filled with crimson flags and their credibility can’t be assured. So if we don’t delete this, this might find yourself as ghost tasks, which we wish to keep away from,” Gatchalian stated.
He stated the Senate would scrutinize the flood management funds earlier than going into different infrastructure packages like roads, bridges and multipurpose buildings, which can even be graft-ridden.
Moreover the flood management funds, Gatchalian stated he’s contemplating eradicating the unprogrammed appropriations however he has to seek the advice of with the Government on the influence of deleting the standby funds.
In Congress, Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Suansing vowed yesterday that funds for flood management tasks underneath the DPWH’s 2026 funds will solely go to flood-prone and demanding areas within the nation.
“Let’s take out the subjectiveness on undertaking identification. As an alternative, allow us to use an objective-criteria by setting clear parameters, guaranteeing that each one tasks funded underneath the 2026 NEP are primarily based on clear feasibility research and are primarily based on science, primarily based on information. Allow us to use a science-based strategy,” Suansing stated.
The lawmaker stated solely these indicated as crimson zones primarily based on the flood hazard map of Challenge NOAH ought to be allowed. “We should be sure that all of us, every centavo that we’ll entrust to the DPWH will go to tasks and areas that actually want it,” she added. — Jose Rodel Clapano, Marc Jayson Cayabyab
