Lacson warns restoring DPWH budget cuts at bicam may reopen door to insertions

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson cautioned against restoring items cut from the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) proposed 2026 budget during the bicameral conference committee deliberations, noting that doing so could reopen the “floodgates” to budget insertions.

Lacson said accommodating DPWH’s request to reinstate budget items that were removed from both the Senate and House versions of the General Appropriations Bill would violate the agreement governing bicameral deliberations, which limits discussions to provisions where the two chambers disagree.

“If the DPWH appeals to restore its budget and the items it seeks are not in the House and Senate versions, it may open the floodgates to insert items that are not in either version,” Lacson said in a radio interview.

He stressed that allowing such restorations would undermine the integrity of the bicameral process.

“In the bicam, if the items they want restored are not in the House and Senate versions, we would be violating our agreement to tackle only the disagreeing provisions, and the door would be open to insertions,” he added.

Lacson’s remarks came after Public Works Secretary Vivencio “Vince” Dizon asked the Senate to restore amounts deducted from certain DPWH projects in the proposed 2026 budget. 

The reductions, Dizon said, were due to adjustments stemming from the Construction Materials Price Data (CMPD), which affected project cost estimates.

Lacson acknowledged the agency’s concerns but maintained that the proper remedy does not lie with the bicameral committee. He pointed out that if the DPWH requires additional funding to support its programs, activities, and projects, it could seek assistance from the Office of the President.

According to Lacson, Malacañang has the authority to realign funds from the Special Purpose Fund (SPF) to address funding gaps, provided there are available savings.

 “That is the SPF’s purpose. The President can realign funds if there are savings. The DPWH can ask for additional funds there,” he said.

The bicameral conference committee is tasked with reconciling differences between the House and Senate versions of the national budget before it is ratified by both chambers and transmitted to the President for approval.