Senator Loren Legarda has urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to review questionable infrastructure projects in the 2025 budget and redirect potential savings to education.
During the Senate finance hearing on the DPWH’s proposed budget, Legarda flagged nearly P1 trillion worth of projects that may be overpriced or based on outdated costs.
“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. Hindi tayo dapat patuloy na magpaloko sa mga nag-o-overprice,” she said.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon assured the Senate that the agency has begun adjusting costs based on current material prices.
“For those that have not yet been procured, we will apply already the new cost of materials. For those that have already been awarded and are already ongoing. We will consult on papaano natin mahahabol, if kaya,” he said.
Legarda, who chairs the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education, stressed that cutting wasteful spending and funding classrooms should be top priorities.IMT
