Manila, Philippines — December 13, 2025
Senator Imee Marcos raised concerns during a Bicameral Conference Committee (Bicam) meeting over the apparent absence of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget in the current deliberations of the ₱6.793 trillion 2026 national budget.
Marcos pointed out that she could not locate the DPWH budget in any of the documents provided to lawmakers, including the nine-page summary reconciling conflicting provisions. She stressed that if transparency is the goal of Congress, it is essential that the DPWH budget be clearly presented, as the omission may fuel public skepticism and erode trust.
Senate Committee on Finance Chairman Sherwin Gatchalian clarified that the DPWH budget is scheduled for discussion in the following session, along with special purpose funds and unprogrammed appropriations.
However, Marcos expressed concern that unprogrammed appropriations are already included in the documents and questioned why the DPWH allocation remains absent, especially given that the committee report spans over 1,500 pages.
The DPWH is one of the largest government agencies in terms of annual funding, typically receiving between ₱800 billion to ₱900 billion for infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, flood control systems, and other public works. In the 2026 proposed budget, the DPWH is expected to remain among the top-funded agencies, following the Department of Education and the Department of Health.
Marcos emphasized that the DPWH budget is a critical component of the national expenditure and should not be omitted from the documentation. She also urged that complete budget documents be released earlier to allow bicam members adequate time to review them and to prevent public concerns that portions of the reconciliation process are being withheld.