Senator Win Gatchalian on Tuesday called on the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to enforce stricter vetting of proposed infrastructure projects for 2027, warning that weak oversight has led to corruption, “ghost” projects, and substandard facilities.
As chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Gatchalian stressed the need for agencies to prepare submissions early to avoid delays and last-minute fixes that marred the 2026 budget process.
“Paparating na naman ang 2027 budget, kaya dapat ngayon pa lang ay maayos na ang pagsusumite sa DBM para hindi na tayo uli magahol sa pag-aayos ng budget tulad ng nangyari sa 2026 budget,” he said.
He noted that DBM rules require new or expanded projects to be “shovel-ready,” but lax enforcement has allowed questionable entries into the National Expenditure Program (NEP). Some proposals, he said, later turned out to be “ghost” projects or failed to meet basic engineering standards.
“Ang nangyayari, gumagawa ng proyekto kahit wala pang eksaktong coordinates, basta may mailagay lang sa NEP. Imbes na ang proyekto ang habulin ng pondo, ang hinahabol ay ang pondo bago pa man ang proyekto,” Gatchalian added.
His remarks followed Senate disclosures that 291 of 337 verified flood control projects lacked precise geographic coordinates on the government’s “Sumbong sa Pangulo” portal.
While many flood control projects were cut from the 2026 budget, Gatchalian warned that several are expected to resurface in the 2027 proposal, citing the continuing threat of flooding nationwide.