MANILA – House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Wednesday rejected claims that budget insertions are being made during the ongoing bicameral conference committee deliberations on the 2026 Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget, calling the allegations inaccurate and misleading.
In a statement, Dy said reports suggesting that lawmakers were secretly adding funds or provisions during the bicameral process were false and misrepresented the process by which the national budget is finalized.
“Nais ko lang pong itama ang mga kumakalat na ispekulasyon: wala pong nangyayaring ‘insertion’ o palihim na pagdaragdag ng pondo o probisyon sa (I would just like to correct the speculations: there are no insertions or secret addition of funds or provisions happening at the) bicameral conference committee,” Dy said.
Dy issued the statement following a Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) report alleging that two-thirds of the 2026 DPWH budget are “insertions.”
Dy stressed that all items in the House version of the budget underwent the proper process and were approved by members of the House of Representatives before the bicameral conference even began.
He explained that the role of the bicameral conference committee is limited to reconciling the versions passed separately by the House and the Senate, rather than introducing new items or provisions that were not previously approved.
The Speaker said there was nothing irregular or concealed in the House’s handling of the budget, emphasizing that the process was conducted openly and within the bounds of the law.
“Bilang Speaker ng Kamara, ako po ay naninindigan sa malinis, maayos, at tapat na proseso ng paggawa ng budget. Ginagawa po natin ito hindi para sa pansariling interes kundi para sa ikabubuti ng bawat Pilipino (As House Speaker, I remain committed to a transparent and orderly process in crafting the budget. We are doing this to serve the interest of each Filipino rather than any individual or political agenda,” he said. (PNA)
