The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon has submitted a revised budget proposal to Congress seeking the removal of P252 billion in allocations for locally-funded flood control projects.
“Moreover, the department has exerted its best efforts, within the very limited period allotted, to ensure that the issues raised in the previously submitted budget, such as the funding of completed and duplicate projects, are adequately addressed,” said Dizon.
This will decrease the DPWH’s proposed budget by 28.99 percent, from an initial P881.312 billion to P624.784 billion. This results in a total reduction of P255.258 billion from the agency’s new proposed budget, said Dizon.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier ordered the removal of funding for local flood control projects from the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) to reallocate the funds to other government projects and programs.
Dizon, in a letter to the House of Representatives dated Sept. 15, 2025, sought revisions to the DWPH budget, highlighting the removal of all locally-funded flood control projects amounting to P252 billion.
The DPWH also supported the President’s recommendations to Congress that the fiscal space made available by the reduction of P255 billion be instead allocated to programs and projects in agriculture, education, healthcare, housing, labor, social welfare and information technology.
“This revision represents the most practical and achievable output given the limited timeframe given to the department,” said Dizon.
A hearing on the proposed DPWH budget is scheduled on Wednesday with the House Committee on Appropriations.
