MANILA — Senator Loren Legarda has called on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to conduct a comprehensive review of questionable infrastructure projects under the 2025 national budget, urging the agency to redirect potential savings from overpriced or poorly implemented projects to social infrastructure, particularly education.

During the Senate Committee on Finance hearing on the DPWH’s proposed 2025 budget, Legarda raised concerns over projects amounting to nearly ₱1 trillion that may still reflect outdated or inflated cost estimates.

“Another source of savings, if I may, would be questionable 2025 projects,” Legarda said. “I believe there is still 1 trillion worth in projects being implemented. So what do you do with those already being implemented but based on the cost of materials alam niyo na na-overpriced? Dapat mag-renegotiate, at dapat ay ibaba iyong presyo maski may kontrata dahil puwede naman iyan, may mga provisions naman sa New Government Procurement Act.”

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon acknowledged Legarda’s concerns, saying the agency has begun adjusting project costs to reflect current material prices.

“For 2025, for those that have not yet been procured, we will apply already the new cost of materials,” Dizon said. “For those that have already been awarded and are already ongoing, we will consult on papaano natin mahahabol, if kaya, iyong mga ongoing na at awarded na, but for those na hindi pa, definitely po we will apply the new cost already now.”

Legarda also asked DPWH to submit a district-level list of projects that can be renegotiated or terminated, in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s advisory to lower the Detailed Unit Price Analysis (DUPA).

“May we receive from the engineering districts a list of projects not yet implemented that can generate savings from renegotiated contracts based on the President’s advisory on lowering the DUPA?” she said. “For ongoing projects na alam niyong overpriced naman at niloloko tayo, bago pa makapasok ang bagong team, maaari niyo namang i-terminate ang mga ito.”

She emphasized that DPWH has both the authority and the responsibility to review, renegotiate, or terminate contracts when warranted.

“So the DPWH can actually do a sweep of these projects ongoing for 2025, terminate those that it can terminate, or renegotiate for a lower price based on the President’s advisory for a lower DUPA, so that we can generate more savings,” she added.

In response, Dizon said the department has already taken steps against erring contractors.

“Yes, in fact, we have terminated already based on the cases that have been filed as well as the licenses that have been cancelled,” Dizon said. “We have terminated several already, particularly all the contracts of the Discaya companies as well as their joint venture partners, as well as other companies where we have filed, such as Wawao [and] SYMS.”

As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education, Legarda urged that any savings from these projects be redirected toward building schools and improving education infrastructure.

“Iyong savings na sinabi po ni Chair kanina, na gusto niya ngayon na-i-allocate, huwag na pag-antayin ang mga tao, iyong kay Presidente pa lang, 45 o 50 billion na iyon, assuming lang sa classrooms,” she said. “I would assume, ‘pag classroom, hindi naman siguro madadaya, hindi naman siguro ma-ghost, hindi naman siguro subject to anomang anomalya o korapsyon, at magiginhawaan ang ating sektor ng basic education.”

Legarda said prioritizing education infrastructure reflects fiscal discipline and ensures that government funds directly benefit communities.