Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste has echoed concerns over the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), suggesting that the agency’s budget could be reduced—or even withheld entirely—due to ongoing issues with project implementation and alleged corruption.
Speaking on DZRH’s Special on Saturday, Leviste criticized the DPWH’s procurement system, noting that many projects appear to be “sold” to contractors, making it difficult to reform the agency.
“Ang lumabas nga sa testimonies sa mga district engineers ay lahat ng mga proyekto ay parang binebenta lang ng mga opisyal sa mga contractor at napaka-hirap talaga na repormahin ang sistemang ito kaya may ibang nagsasabi na dapat i-abolish na lang ang DPWH,” he said.
Leviste added that while he has previously advocated lowering the costs of DPWH projects, the growing evidence of inefficiency and corruption makes it increasingly difficult to justify the agency’s budget.
“Hirap ang ekonomiya at baka hindi natin ma-meet ang ating government revenue target para mapondohan ang 2026 budget, I can say na maganda nga na maghanap tayo ng savings sa budget at bawasan, kung hindi tanggalin, ang budget ng DPWH,” he explained.
The lawmaker argued that the current system does not promote economic growth. According to Leviste, only 35 to 50 percent of funds allocated to DPWH projects actually reach the intended infrastructure, with the rest diverted to contractors.
He warned that while infrastructure investment is traditionally seen as a way to multiply economic benefits, overpriced or poorly implemented projects may have the opposite effect.
Leviste clarified that he is not opposed to infrastructure investment altogether. He supports foreign-assisted projects under the DPWH, which typically involve proper planning and reputable contractors. However, he said that locally implemented projects often suffer from corruption in bidding or substandard workmanship.
Drawing on his own experience in Batangas, Leviste suggested that local government units (LGUs) may be better positioned to implement infrastructure projects efficiently.
“Hindi naman perfect ang mga local governments pero ayon sa aking sariling distrito ay mas maganda ang kalidad ng mga gawa ng local governments kaysa sa DPWH,” he said.
