Leviste lauds Dizon on DPWH price reform
Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste has publicly thanked Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon for engaging with a push to temper the costs of the agency’s projects. In a statement, Leviste expressed appreciation for the acknowledgement that DPWH projects should be priced more accurately and for his call to reform budget allocation for 2027 and beyond.
Background: the push for lower DPWH project costs
The exchange followed Leviste’s aggressive outreach, which has culminated in a concrete proposal to reduce project prices by an average of 25 percent. The proposal aligns with an intent to curb unnecessary markups and reduce opportunities for kickbacks in the procurement process—a concern Leviste has consistently raised in relation to the Detailed Unit Price Analysis (DUPA) and the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC).
What Secretary Dizon said
During a press conference on Friday, October 10, Secretary Dizon responded to Leviste’s call, saying he welcomes the suggestion and that changes are underway. He noted that the exact reductions would vary by geographical area and would be disclosed in a Department Order with detailed figures for different locales. “We will definitely release that in the coming weeks, hopefully very soon,” Dizon said, signaling a measured but decisive move toward price normalization across regions.
Implications for transparency and governance
Leviste emphasized the need for greater transparency in the DPWH’s budgeting process. He called for public access to data showing which projects are allocable within the budget, which remain non-allocable, and who advocates for specific items. By advocating for open data on allocations and the leadership fund, Leviste hopes to shrink room for questionable insertions in the annual budget cycle.
Addressing kickbacks and insertion practices
The lawmaker argued that lowering official prices would erode incentives for kickbacks and “SOP” practices that inflate project costs. He also urged DPWH to share more details about projects in the 2026 budget that remain under review, including revisions made by Secretary Dizon in September that removed flood control projects but retained other NEP insertions.
What this could mean for 2026 and beyond
Leviste stressed that waiting until the 2027 budget is not the best approach to stamping out corrupt practices. He said a proactive reduction in prices and a transparent accounting of 2026 insertions could set a new standard for how infrastructure budgets are constructed and funded. The Batangueño representative envisions a DPWH that demonstrates measurable savings per geographic area and clear, public data on how budget lines are allocated and executed.
Next steps and accountability
As both sides anticipate a more detailed DO and a published area-by-area price analysis, lawmakers and watchdogs will watch for tangible reductions and improved disclosure. Leviste remains hopeful that Secretary Dizon will publish the updated price structures and provide the country with a more robust framework to monitor DPWH spending, ensuring every peso advances public needs rather than private gain.
Conclusion
The ongoing dialogue between Rep. Leviste and Secretary Dizon marks a pivotal moment for infrastructure governance in the Philippines. If implemented, the proposed price reductions and enhanced transparency could reduce costs, deter corrupt practices, and improve the efficiency of the DPWH budget for 2026 and 2027, benefiting local communities and the nation at large.
