The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) welcomed the Senate’s decision to remove 295 infrastructure projects worth Php 8.8 billion from the proposed 2027 national budget due to incomplete supporting documents.
The move forms part of the government’s efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability in infrastructure spending amid concerns over alleged ghost projects.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the DPWH to ensure that all projects proposed for inclusion in the 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP) are supported by complete and proper documentation.
The directive followed the disclosure of former Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon before the Senate that 295 projects lacked the required documents from district engineering offices (DEOs), prompting his recommendation to exclude them from the proposed spending plan.
Public Works Secretary Banoy Lopez said the department would continue the reforms initiated by Dizon, particularly the stricter screening and validation of proposed infrastructure projects.
Under the revised requirements, project proponents must submit an approved Program of Work (POW), validated geotagged photographs, Budget Preparation (BP) 202 compliance documents, and a Certificate of Implementability.
Projects must also have the appropriate master plan, feasibility study, endorsement from Regional Development Councils (RDCs) or Local Development Councils (LDCs), or a Certificate of Non-Objection, as applicable.
Lopez emphasized that the President’s directive aims to prevent projects with insufficient documentation from being included in the national budget.
“Ang mahigpit na bilin sa atin ng Pangulong Marcos ay dapat walang makakalusot na proyektong kulang sa dokumento para masiguro natin na pisikal at aktwal na mararamdaman ng mga kababayan natin ang mga proyektong ating i-implement,” Lopez said.
He added that the transparency measures introduced by Dizon must be sustained to ensure the proper implementation of government-funded projects.
“Siniguro ni Secretary Vince Dizon na dapat transparent ang mga proyektong kasama sa budget ng pamahalaan kaya dapat maimplement natin ito ng maayos at tama,” Lopez said.
The DPWH maintained that stricter documentation and project validation would help ensure that public funds are allocated to legitimate, implementable infrastructure projects that directly benefit communities.
