Senator Imee Marcos on Sunday accused Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon of holding the bicameral conference committee on the 2026 budget hostage, following his request not to reduce the agency’s budget despite admitted overpricing of construction materials.
Dizon had asked the Senate to reverse budget cuts to avoid projects becoming unimplementable. He preferred the agency, rather than the Senate through the budget bill, to adjust material costs due to regional price variations.
“I truly resent the fact that the bicam is being hostaged by the Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways,” Marcos said.
“At kung tunay na wala kayong tiwala sa sino mang district engineer, hindi po ako abogado ng Public Works. Dapat tanggalin na lang ninyo lahat kasi pinapadagdagan mo ‘yung budget tapos yung mga mag-i-implement, wala kang tiwala, ano naman kami?” she added.
Dizon responded that the DPWH is “doing the best we can given the current situation,” emphasizing that the agency cannot stop working.
“Hindi kita pinahihinto sa trabaho. Pinamamadali nga namin. Ikaw ang humihinto sa trabaho namin dito sa Bicam at papalit-palit ka ng sinasabi. Yun ang problema,” Marcos retorted.