Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste delivered a privilege speech Wednesday evening, urging Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon to use his authority to lower the cost of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects by 25 percent and end systemic kickbacks in the agency.
‘In the time of DPWH Secretary Babes Singson, he lowered prices by 10 percent before approving projects. Secretary Dizon has committed to do the same, but overpricing is now even worse,’ Leviste said.
‘We call on him to lower prices by 25 percent, which we will support in Congress, so that our country can save P400 billion. Let’s not just lower it by 10 percent and leave 15 percent; let’s lower it by a full 25 percent and end kickbacks in DPWH,’ he said.
Leviste said the system of kickbacks in the DPWH is driven from within the agency.
‘DPWH computes the prices, bids and implements projects, and even if a congressman is not involved, district engineering offices still rig bids, handpick contractors and collect kickbacks instead of the congressman. That’s why the solution should start from within DPWH itself,’ Leviste said.
‘I commend Secretary Dizon for his steps to clean up DPWH. Corruption won’t be solved overnight, but if he wants to cut kickbacks immediately, he can lower prices by 25 percent. I pray that he will do the right thing for our country,’ he added.
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Leviste’s privilege speech followed an open letter he sent to Dizon earlier this week, calling on the DPWH ‘to lower prices by 25 percent to prevent kickbacks and to be fully transparent on the 2026 DPWH budget before Congress votes on the 2026 budget this Friday, to send a clear message that real change has come to DPWH.’
Leviste also welcomed Congress’ approval of funding for 25,000 new classrooms in 2026, saying the savings from lowering the prices of DPWH projects could fund the remainder of the Department of Education’s estimated 165,000-classroom shortage.
‘Let’s fund classrooms instead of kickbacks, and use the savings from overpriced projects to strengthen our education sector,’ Leviste said.