Senator Francis Escudero has filed a bill to institutionalize a standardized budgeting system for infrastructure projects, aiming to eliminate overpricing and ensure transparency in public spending.
Under Senate Bill No. 1467, or the “Detailed Unit Price Analysis System (DUPA) Act,” all infrastructure budgets must reflect actual market costs supported by technical documentation.
“Hindi puwedeng tantiyahan lang ang halaga ng proyekto. Dapat may batayan, may detalye, at may pananagutan,” Escudero said.
He said the measure supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to lower construction material costs and continue transparency reforms initiated by DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon.
Escudero noted that for Fiscal Year 2026, the infrastructure budget would reach PHP1.56 trillion, or 22.94 percent of total government spending. However, he warned that project costing remains “arbitrary, inconsistent, and susceptible to distortion and misrepresentation.”
The DUPA system would require detailed documentation of labor, materials, equipment, and other expenses for all projects before inclusion in the national budget or procurement process.
“Kapag malinaw ang presyo ng bawat pako, semento, at serbisyo, mas nagiging tapat ang paggastos ng gobyerno. Mas nakikita ng taumbayan kung saan napupunta ang bawat piso,” Escudero added.
The bill also tasks the DPWH, DBM, COA, and NEDA to create a national reference manual for cost estimation—updated every three years to reflect price changes and regional differences.
Officials who falsify or omit data in DUPA documents will face administrative or criminal charges and perpetual disqualification from public office.
Escudero said the measure would promote fiscal discipline, deter corruption, and ensure accountability in government infrastructure spending.
