Modest DPWH budget request for 2027 signals flagship-project focus as gov’t prepares to exit

THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said on Wednesday it is seeking about P215 billion in funding for 2027, with P200 billion needed to sustain ongoing flagship infrastructure projects.

At a hearing of the Committee on Flagship Programs and Projects, Public Works Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain said that of the 26 ongoing flagship infrastructure projects, eight are targeted for completion by 2028, the year the administration steps down.

The relatively modest budget request for 2027 is well off the over P1 trillion it was granted in the 2025 spending plan and the nearly P530 billion allocation in 2026. In 2025, the department faced intense scrutiny in the wake of the flood control corruption scandal, leading to an overhaul of the DPWH leadership and a review of many of its projects. The department also had the farm-to-market road program taken away from it, with the Department of Agriculture (DA) stepping in to replace it.

Mr. Sadain said overall, 201 infrastructure flagship projects at various stages of implementation are being overseen by 22 agencies, with 76 under the DPWH.

He said five projects are currently awaiting approval by the Economic Development Council, while 12 others are under review by the Investment Coordination Committee.

Rizal Rep. Jose Arturo S. Garcia, Jr. queried whether substantially complete projects can be put to use immediately.

“If there are projects like highways or buildings that are 50% to 60% complete, you can already use them, right? So they can impact people in some way,” Mr. Garcia said.

Mr. Sadain said some flood control and pumping station projects can be made use of by 2027, while several road projects are substantially complete and have been operating partially. — Pexcel John Bacon