Statement of Malacañang on Order of Marcos Jr. for Review of DPWH Proposed Budget for 2026
MARCOS JR. – The President ordered a sweeping review of the proposed budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for 2026 amid the allegations of anomalies.
The House of Representatives is currently deliberating the proposed budget for 2026 following the submission of the National Expenditure Program (NEP). The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) submitted a NEP requesting for a P6.79-trillion budget for next year.
Previously, Pres. Bongbong Marcos claimed during his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) that he will not approve budget proposals that are not in line with the plans of the government. However, it was followed by the remarks of Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero reminding him that the “power of the purse” still belongs to the Congress.
Ahead of the commencement of the budget talks, Malacañang said the Congress must not abuse the “power of the purse”. Following the submission of the NEP to the House, Marcos Jr. asked the Congress to ‘swiftly enact” the 2026 proposed budget.
The President claimed that the Philippines may be a leader among the nations. According to him, the country is on the track with regards to its prosperity agenda. He called for cooperation with the Senate and the House of Representatives.
However, amid the deliberation of the 2026 proposed national budget, there were allegations that some items in the NEP allegedly require budget allocations for projects that have already been finished. Amid the issue, Pres. Bongbong Marcos stressed that the 2026 proposed national budget “really needs to be cleaned out properly”.
The Chief Executive admitted that there are still a lot of insertions in the proposed budget for next year. Recently, amid the issue, Marcos Jr. ordered for a sweeping review of the proposed budget of the DPWH for next year.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, on the order of Marcos Jr. for a sweeping review of the proposed budget of the DPWH for 2026, Malacañang press officer undersecretary Claire Castro said that the President stressed that the review “must lead to the necessary changes to guarantee transparency, accountability and proper use of people’s money”.
Furthermore, based on the report, the Palace official also said that the review of the DPWH’s proposed budget will make it sure that the “resources are directed toward infrastructure projects that genuinely served and benefit Filipino people”, According to Atty. Claire Castro, the review will determine if there are really insertions or duplications in the budget proposal that need to be taken out.
“Ito po ay pag-aaralang mabuti kaya po ang DBM pati po ang DPWH ay bubusisiin po ito talaga kung totoo bang nagkaroon ng mga duplication, nagkaroon ng insertion, dapat po kasi matanggal ito through errata,” the Palace official said.
Previously, Malacañang also reacted to the claims that some items in the 2026 NEP request budget for “finished” projects.