PUBLIC Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon has committed to lowering project prices and reforming budget allocation processes, but faces pressure from Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Legarda Leviste to implement changes sooner rather than later.
During a press conference on Friday, Dizon responded to Leviste’s suggestion to lower DPWH project prices by 25%, stating, “We are already working on this, this will be coming very soon… We will definitely [issue a Department Order] in the coming weeks, hopefully very soon.” He clarified that the price reductions would vary based on geographical area.
Regarding “leadership funds” and other insertions in the budget, Dizon said he has instructed Undersecretary Nic Conti to “study and revisit and change this formula that unfortunately even I don’t understand.” He added that these reforms would be implemented moving forward, starting with the 2027 budget. Dizon explained that he had limited input on the 2026 budget, as it was already submitted when he took office.
In response, Leviste thanked Dizon for agreeing to lower project prices and reform the budget allocation system, but urged the DPWH to investigate the role of project kickbacks in overpricing and to disclose data on project allocations, insertions, and proponents.
Leviste noted that the revised 2026 budget submitted by Dizon removed flood control projects but retained other projects from NEP insertions without lowering the prices of the remaining projects. “We should not wait until the 2027 budget to stop kickbacks and questionable insertions in the DPWH budget,” Leviste said, urging Dizon to lower prices and disclose more information on insertions in the 2026 budget.
Leviste had previously sent an open letter to Dizon on October 6, requesting a Department Order to lower project prices by 25% and to disclose information on congressional district budgets, NEP insertions, and their proponents before Congress approves the 2026 budget.
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