Senators on Monday called on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Commission on Audit (COA) to implement a pre-audit system to stop the repeated funding and reconstruction of roads that have already been completed or remain in good condition.
During the Senate Committee on Finance hearing on the proposed 2026 DPWH budget, Senator Erwin Tulfo raised long-standing public complaints about roads being repeatedly dug up or reblocked despite showing no damage.
“Common po ito sa mga provinces. Sasabihin, kakatapos lang niyan, kaka-inaugurate lang, next month bubungkalin na naman,” Tulfo said, citing cases along the Quezon–Camarines Sur highway where newly completed roads were being destroyed and rebuilt with no visible cracks or defects.
“Parang may collusion sa DPWH district engineers o COA, kasi pinapayagan na pondohan ulit,” he added.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon confirmed that he had already ordered the suspension of all reblocking activities nationwide since October 7, pending the issuance of clear engineering standards.
“Naglabas po ako ng memorandum suspending nationwide all re-blocking activities until makapaglabas po tayo ng very, very clear guidelines and criteria kung kailan po dapat lang mag-reblocking,” Dizon said.
He expressed support for the Senate’s proposal to implement a pre-audit system that would allow the COA and DPWH to verify the necessity of road repairs before funding is approved.
“Doon po talaga mahuhuli ‘yan,” he said, referring to potential irregularities.
Dizon also noted that the DPWH is finalizing new transparency rules requiring the publication of project listings, station limits, and detailed line items to prevent duplication and overlapping entries.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who chairs the finance panel, welcomed the reforms and said stricter audit procedures and clearer engineering criteria would help eliminate wasteful reblocking and protect public funds.
