DPWH to scrap Cabral's formula for district budgets

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon pledged on Monday, January 12, to scrap the so-called “parametric formula” used to determine district-level allocations, following allegations it was manipulated to allow corruption.

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“The allocables will be gone. That allocable system whatever it is, which to this day I still have a hard time understanding is gone. We will do away with all of that. There will be no more favoritism and no more slipping projects in,” he said at a press conference, speaking in a mix of English and Filipino.

Elaborating on the DPWH’s priorities for 2026, Dizon said one focus would be ending longstanding practices in which projects were funded at the behest of public officials rather than through proper planning and needs-based assessment.

“So the new formula will be based primarily on the needs of the areas of the district, of the province, of the municipality, and of the region... All projects must have a plan. All projects must be endorsed by the development councils,” he said.

While the DPWH may still receive project requests from lawmakers or local officials, Dizon stressed that inclusion in the agency’s budget will require a concrete plan and clear cost calculations, ensuring that only well-vetted projects are funded.