Senator Win Gatchalian urged the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to reform the preparation of the National Expenditure Program (NEP) and tighten its scrutiny of questionable projects. The NEP is the executive branch’s spending plan that serves as the basis for the General Appropriations Act.

On Day 2 of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) briefing on the 2026 budget at the Senate, Gatchalian learned that the DBM skipped thorough scrutiny of Department of Public Works and Highways projects, citing their “special nature.”

“Iyang special nature na ‘yan ang nagiging source ng corruption. Ni walang feasibility study at kaya may round numbers sa line items dahil walang detailed engineering design dahil kung meron nito, it will give you the exact cost of each project,” Gatchalian said.

He pointed out “red flags” that could have prevented anomalous infrastructure projects had the DBM reviewed the DPWH’s proposals more carefully. These red flags include duplicate projects with identical costs and items from the 2025 budget that resurfaced in the 2026 NEP.

“You are accountable for the NEP. Dinadala ninyo sa Kongreso ang proposed budget without proper vetting at lumalagpas sa scrutiny ninyo,” the lawmaker told Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman during the briefing.