DPWH Seeks P20B Budget Realignment for 2027 Projects

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is proposing institutional amendments worth around P20 billion to its proposed P643.95 billion budget for 2027, a House lawmaker said Thursday. Surigao del Sur Rep. Romeo Momo Jr., who sponsored the DPWH budget in plenary, said the proposed amendments would realign funds for needed infrastructure projects. DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said among these projects are flood control and drainage improvement. He said the list of projects would be made public by the agency. The proposed tweaks in the DPWH budget surfaced following the inquiry of ACT Teacher Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio on Thursday's plenary deliberation of the proposed budget. "Are there institutional amendments to the DPWH budget in the NEP (National Expenditure Program) proposal? ...What is the magnitude of this institutional amendment?" Tinio asked. Momo replied, "Yes, there is, to be submitted, roughly P20 billion." "There will be no additional; it will be within the budget of the DPWH," Momo added. Asked what projects would be affected, the sponsor said some projects may be retained but their allocations could be reduced to accommodate the proposed realignments. The sponsor also assured lawmakers that the proposed amendments would still undergo the required review and compliance, despite the changes being introduced after the NEP was submitted. Tinio also pointed out that 80 percent of the budget for Capital Outlay (CO) of the agency was lodged in the central office. "We notice it is highly centralized; 80 percent of CO, or around P603 billion, is with the central office. Only around P39 billion is with the district engineering offices," he said. Momo explained that this was so as part of the reforms being implemented by the agency, adding that projects with a budget over P50 million are automatically lodged in the central office. On Tinio's inquiry, Momo acknowledged that some projects with a budget of P50 million and below are also under the central office to speed up their implementation, such as the Daang Maharlika road network. —LDF, GMA News