Senator Bam Aquino on Tuesday said the Senate will not approve an overpriced national budget, as deliberations on the proposed 2026 spending plan remain deadlocked over funding for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Aquino made the statement amid the DPWH’s appeal to restore the P45 billion trimmed by the Senate from its proposed budget, following lawmakers’ review of project costs. 

He stressed that the chamber would only sign off on a budget that is properly and transparently computed.

If the DPWH has issues with our computation, Aquino said they should do their own recalculation and come back with the correct figures using the new Construction Materials Price Data.

“If you have issues with our computation, then do your own computation as well. Do your job, calculate the correct figures, and come back to us with the right budget,” Aquino said in Filipino in a television interview.

Aquino said the Senate wants the DPWH to present a detailed breakdown of costs for its reported 10,000 projects using updated price data to ensure accuracy and prevent overpricing.

“We want the DPWH to come back to the table and give the proper computation. Let them tell us how much the cost really is using the new CMPD,” he said.

The senator emphasized that the issue stems from concerns over alleged anomalies in flood control projects, including overpricing and so-called “ghost projects,” which lawmakers are determined to prevent from recurring.

“That’s why we’re in the middle of this flood control scandal—because some projects were overpriced and others did not exist. We just want to be sure that we sign off on budgets that are properly computed,” Aquino said.

He clarified that the creation of a new Construction Materials Price Data was agreed upon during previous Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings and DPWH budget deliberations.

“The Senate computed that together with the DPWH. Nabawasan ang budget, and everybody lauded that move because, for the 2026 budget, projects should already be priced correctly,” he said.

To resolve the impasse, Aquino said the DPWH should present actual and updated prices during the bicameral conference committee discussions, noting that the Senate is open to approving justified adjustments.

Aquino also addressed concerns raised by some lawmakers that certain projects might not push through due to insufficient funding, saying there is still enough fiscal space because of inflated cost estimates.

“There is still room there because it is overpriced. Even if you cut 10 percent, it can still be done,” he said, disputing the DPWH’s claim that some projects may be undervalued.

“Spend a few days, i-compute ninyo. Balikan niyo kami, pakitaan niyo kami ng totoong computation. From there, we will decide whether we will sign off or not,” Aquino said.