Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste on Saturday renewed his call for Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon to slash by 25 percent the cost of DPWH projects, saying the move could immediately curb the long-running system of “kickbacks” or “SOPs” that he claims are already built into public infrastructure budgets.
In a live interview on DZRH’s “Special on Saturday,” the lawmaker said that lowering project prices by 25% would remove the built-in margin allegedly used for “SOPs” and could save the government up to ₱150 billion from the DPWH’s ₱600-billion project budget for 2026.
“Dalawa po ang aming panukala. Una, immediately, lower the prices of DPWH projects by 25%," Leviste explained.
"Pangalawa, to disclose available information, including kung sino ang proponents ng mga proyekto sa budget na isinusumite ng DPWH bago pa man siya dumating sa Kongreso," he added.
Leviste said that based on testimonies from former DPWH Usec. Roberto Bernando and contractors, "almost 100% of projects" undergo rigged bidding and involve “systematic” collusion between bidders and DPWH engineers — leaving no true competition and allowing inflated costs.
“Noong ako po ay bagong upo, nagulat ako na ganyan ka-systematic pala ang rigged bidding sa DPWH. Nagco-collude daw ang mga bidders, at dini-disqualify ng DPWH ang mga hindi kasali sa collusion,” he said. “Kung pwede piliin kung sino ang winning bidder, kasama na raw po sa usapan na ang winning bidder ay magbibigay ng kickback.”
The first-term congressman also questioned how some projects reach as high as ₱100 million per kilometer for asphalt overlay, saying similar local government or private sector projects cost 30 to 50% less.
“Sa 2026 budget, may nakita akong proposal na asphalt overlay na mahigit ₱100 million per kilometer ang cost. Dinadaya na nga, mahal pa," he said.
Leviste emphasized that lowering prices is the most immediate way to demonstrate reform in DPWH spending, as Congress is set to approve the 2026 national budget within days.
“Kung papayagan natin na maaprubahan iyan na hindi ibaba ang presyo ng DPWH projects sa 2026, ang masasabi ko po ay business-as-usual pa, hindi po mababago ang kultura ng kickbacks sa DPWH projects,” he said.
“Kung tunay pong reporma ang gusto natin sa DPWH, kahit ngayong linggo, kayang ibaba ang presyo at ilabas ang karagdagang impormasyon tungkol sa 2026 projects," the lawmaker noted.
According to Leviste, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon has expressed support in principle for lowering project costs but has yet to specify by how much or when it would be implemented.
“Sinabi niya na he absolutely agrees with our proposal to lower prices. Ito ay pinag-usapan naman na po namin noon, at sinabi niya na pag-aaralan kung gaano kababa ang pwede maging prices ng mga DPWH projects, pero wala pang linaw kung gaano kababa, at kung kailan pwedeng ibaba ito," he said.
Leviste said the savings from a 25% price cut could instead be used to build more classrooms and fund other social infrastructure.
He added that if his district had ₱1.6 billion worth of DPWH projects, the amount could be reduced to ₱1.2 billion, with the ₱400 million in savings redirected to building additional classrooms.
The lawmaker added that he would continue pressing for immediate reforms in the DPWH budget process and would not stop until the kickback system ends.
“I will not stop until they do,” Leviste declared.
