Legarda demands budget reform: “Let’s uproot a system left to worsen for decades”

Senator Loren Legarda called for major reforms in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on the proposed budget of the agency. She pointed to years of overpricing and lack of transparency in how infrastructure projects are planned and carried out.

“We are uprooting a system that has been left to worsen, not just in past years, but decades,” Legarda said, acknowledging the challenges faced by the agency while pressing for immediate action. “The changes must not be a mere change of face, but must be a change in systems.”

Legarda highlighted the lack of a clear, science-based way to distribute infrastructure funds among legislative districts. Legarda gave examples of provinces with small populations and land areas getting much larger budgets than needed, while other areas with greater needs received less. She called for a clear formula so that if anyone asks why their district gets a certain amount, there is no resentment because the process is based on facts, not on arbitrary decisions.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon admitted that the agency could not fully explain the current formula and committed to scrapping it entirely for 2027. He outlined guiding principles for the new system, such as need, environmental risk, and readiness or absorptive capacity.

“We will make the formula simpler, more straightforward, and will really be responsive to the needs of the community, thereby making it more equitable. That is our commitment to the Senate and to the people.” Sec. Dizon said.

Legarda welcomed the commitment but stressed that reform must begin now. “We still have time to correct the 2026 budget before plenary. Let’s not wait for 2027. We are only halfway through the process,” the four-term senator said.

She also addressed systemic overpricing in DPWH projects, citing recent corruption revelations and long-standing inflation in unit costs.

“How can we in conscience work on the budget or affix our signature on an overpriced budget?” she asked. “Let’s treat a 25-30% reduction across all DPWH line items as a cleansing step.”

Legarda stressed that lowering overpriced infrastructure costs would free up funds for urgent needs like classroom construction and could help address long-standing education backlogs.

The senator further pressed the agency to open its internal monitoring platforms to the public.

“There should be public access to DPWH’s internal monitoring tools. I asked the agency to make these dashboards available to the public, so people can track progress and participate in oversight.”

Legarda concluded by reaffirming her commitment to institutional reform and public accountability. “We want you to keep your jobs and help us get the job done well. But the budget must reflect integrity and the real needs of our people. That’s the only way we restore trust.” (30)

Legarda nananawagan ng reporma sa badyet

Sa pagdinig ng Senate Finance Committee hinggil sa panukalang badyet ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), nanawagan si Senadora Loren Legarda ng malawakang reporma sa ahensya. Binigyang-diin niya ang taon-taong isyu ng overpricing at kakulangan ng transparency sa pagpaplano at pagpapatupad ng mga proyektong pang-imprastruktura.

“We are uprooting a system that has been left to worsen, not just in past years, but decades,” aniya habang kinikilala ang mga hamong kinahaharap ng ahensya at sabay nanawagan ng agarang aksyon. “The changes must not be a mere change of face, but must be a change in systems.”

Ipinunto ni Legarda ang kawalan ng malinaw at siyentipikong batayan sa pamamahagi ng pondo para sa mga proyektong pang-imprastruktura sa bawat distrito. Nagbigay siya ng halimbawa ng mga lalawigang may maliit na populasyon at sukat ng lupa na nakakatanggap ng sobrang pondo, samantalang ang mga lugar na may higit na pangangailangan ay kulang.

Inamin ni DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon na hindi lubos na maipaliwanag ng ahensya ang kasalukuyang formula at nangakong tuluyang tatanggalin ito pagsapit ng 2027. Ipinahayag niya ang mga magiging batayan ng bagong sistema tulad ng pangangailangan, panganib sa kapaligiran, at kakayahan ng lugar na maipatupad ang proyekto.

“We will make the formula simpler, more straightforward, and will really be responsive to the needs of the community, thereby making it more equitable. That is our commitment to the Senate and to the people,” ani Dizon.

Tinanggap ni Legarda ang pangako ng kalihim ngunit iginiit na dapat simulan agad ang reporma. “We still have time to correct the 2026 budget before plenary. Let’s not wait for 2027. We are only halfway through the process,” ayon kay Legarda.

Tinuligsa rin niya ang overpricing sa mga proyekto ng DPWH, at binanggit ang mga kamakailang isyung may kinalaman sa katiwalian at labis na pagtaas ng presyo sa mga materyales at proyekto.

“How can we in conscience work on the budget or affix our signature on an overpriced budget?” tanong niya. “Let’s treat a 25-30% reduction across all DPWH line items as a cleansing step.”

Binigyang-diin ni Legarda na ang pagbaba ng labis na gastos sa imprastruktura ay makapaglalaan ng pondo para sa mga agarang pangangailangan tulad ng pagpapatayo ng mga silid-aralan, at makatutulong sa pagsugpo sa matagal nang kakulangan sa edukasyon.

Hinimok din ng senadora ang ahensya na buksan sa publiko ang kanilang internal monitoring platforms.

“There should be public access to DPWH’s internal monitoring tools. I asked the agency to make these dashboards available to the public, so people can track progress and participate in oversight.”

Sa pagtatapos, pinagtibay ni Legarda ang kanyang paninindigan para sa institusyonal na reporma at pananagutan sa pamahalaan. “We want you to keep your jobs and help us get the job done well. But the budget must reflect integrity and the real needs of our people. That’s the only way we restore trust.” (30)