Leviste praises DPWH leadership for price reductions and budget reforms
Batangas 1st district Representative Leandro Legarda Leviste has publicly thanked Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon for addressing a long-standing demand: lowering the prices of DPWH projects. In a statement, Leviste commended Dizon for agreeing that the agency should pursue reduced project costs based on geographical area and for pursuing reforms in how budgets are allocated in 2027 and beyond.
The exchange followed a recent press conference in which Dizon was pressed on Leviste’s aggressive call to cut project prices by 25 percent. Dizon stated that such reductions would not only lower upfront costs but also help root out corruption by limiting opportunities for kickbacks tied to inflated bids.
What Dizon confirmed and what comes next
During the press briefing on Friday, October 10, Dizon acknowledged Leviste’s proposal and emphasized that precise figures would depend on regional calculations. “We absolutely welcome the suggestions of Congressman Leviste. We are already working on this, this will be coming very soon,” he said. He added that the reductions would be detailed per geographical area when the department issues its Department Order (DO) and related cost analyses in the coming weeks.
To provide clarity on how pricing would be adjusted, Dizon signaled plans to publish Detailed Unit Price Analysis (DUPA) and Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) figures reflecting regional variations. The river of detail would show how much prices drop in each locality, ensuring stakeholders can verify the extent of reductions and assess value for money.
Leviste’s broader call for transparency and reform
Leviste pushed for greater transparency beyond price cuts. He urged the DPWH to disclose data on which projects in the budget are “allocable,” which are “non-allocable,” and those tied to leadership funds or specific proponents. He also questioned the presence of a budget “leadership fund” and called for openness about project insertions in the 2026 budget as a prerequisite for meaningful reform in 2027.
“I hope [Secretary Dizon] will lower DPWH’s prices and disclose more on insertions that remain in the 2026 budget, so that Congress can make 2026’s DPWH budget truly different from 2025’s,” Leviste stated. He argued that waiting until the 2027 budget cycle would be too late to curb corrupt practices that inflate infrastructure costs.
Political and policy implications
The dialogue between Leviste and Dizon arrives at a time when public demand for transparent governance and prudent use of funds is high. If the DPWH can implement area-based pricing, publish detailed cost analyses, and clearly separate allocable from non-allocable projects, it would represent a substantive shift toward efficiency and accountability in Philippine public works.
Observers noted that the effectiveness of these plans will hinge on consistent deployment, independent auditing, and continued political will. As Dizon indicated, the department aims to roll out the new pricing framework in the coming weeks, with a detailed geographic breakdown guiding future contracts and budgetary decisions. Leviste’s open advocacy underscores a broader call for systemic reform that could influence how future national infrastructure programs are planned and funded.
