President Marcos has ordered a comprehensive review of government agencies’ proposed budgets for 2026, Malacañang said Thursday, amid allegations of questionable allocations in flood control and other projects.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is at the center of scrutiny, with President Marcos directing lifestyle checks on officials and a detailed examination of its 700-page budget. Newly appointed Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon has begun discussions with Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman regarding revisions.
Lawmakers, however, claimed that questionable items are not limited to DPWH. Concerns have been raised about the interior department’s firearms procurement, agriculture’s farm-to-market road projects, and the health department’s beautification program. Malacañang emphasized that President Marcos’ directive applies to all agencies.
Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro dismissed speculation that the probe is politically motivated against Vice President Sara Duterte and her allies, calling such claims “wild imagination.” She added that an executive order is being finalized to create an independent commission to investigate the controversial flood control projects.
In the Senate, Senator Panfilo Lacson pushed for a complete overhaul of the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB), following its executive director’s resignation and allegations of “accreditation for sale.” He slammed the spread of corruption into the national budget process. Senator Erwin Tulfo added that resignations should not exempt officials from accountability and proposed amendments to the Contractors’ License Law to prevent conflicts of interest.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives is considering sending back parts of the National Expenditure Program (NEP) to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for corrections. Speaker Martin Romualdez directed lawmakers to highlight problematic items in their districts’ allocations without revising the NEP themselves.
Despite the controversy, Senate finance chair Sherwin Gatchalian assured that the upper chamber will continue budget hearings to meet the year-end passage deadline. Critics, however, such as the Makabayan bloc, described the Palace’s review order as mere damage control amid mounting corruption allegations.
