Sen. Erwin Tulfo Questions Presence of DPWH Chief Vince Dizon during Bicam
ERWIN TULFO – Some netizens reacted to the remarks of the Senator on the appearance of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) chief Vince Dizon during the Bicameral Conference Committee’s convention.
The bicam has started the budget process for the 2026 national fund. Amid the proceedings, DPWH chief Vince Dizon asked the bicam to restore the budget cut from the proposed fund of the agency for 2026. The Public Works Secretary cited the changes in the Construction Materials Price Data (CMPD).
Under the lead of former Public Works chief Manuel Bonoan, the DPWH asked for a P881.3 billion budget for 2026. However, amid the flood control mess, Bonoan resigned and was replaced by Dizon. Following the change in leadership, President Bongbong Marcos asked for the sweeping review of the proposed budget of the DPWH for 2026. According to the Palace, the President wants to make sure that the projects would benefit the Filipino people.
Following the review, DPWH Sec. Vince Dizon announced that they slashed P255 billion from the proposed 2026 budget of the agency leaving it to P625.8 billion. He also asked for the reallocation of the said budget to other sectors.
“[T]he 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,” Dizon said.
However, recently, during the bicam, DPWH Sec. Vince Dizon asked the members of the committee to restore the cut portion of the 2026 proposed budget of the agency. His request did not sit well with several senators including Sen. Erwin Tulfo.
Sen. Erwin Tulfo asked why the secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was invited to the bicam. Based on a post of Inquirer, he cited that the bicameral conference committee calls for the presence of the members of lower and upper houses.
However, a line in the remarks of Sen. Erwin Tulfo caught the attention of some netizens when he mentioned the “Congress and Senate” as he referred to the bicam.
“Bakit po natin ipapatawag ang Secretary ng Department of Public Works and Highways, when in fact this is a bicameral conference committee? Conference po between the lower house and the upper chamber, di po ba ng Congress and Senate?” he said.
In the comments, some netizens expressed understanding of the point of Sen. Erwin Tulfo. There were also those who noticed his “Congress and Senate” remark:
Previously, Sen. Erwin Tulfo was criticized over his “bend the law” remarks during a Senate flood control hearing.