Marikina City 2nd district Rep. Miro Quimbo has challenged the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to adopt a full disclosure policy in the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026.

Sounding fed up with the whole "insertion" issue, Quimbo said the solons who endorsed such insertions for projects must be named in the budget proposal, a la the United States (US) system.

“Let’s stop the finger-pointing and confusion. If a congressman or senator proposes a project, put their name on it. Like in the US, earmarks are transparent. Lawmakers must own and defend their insertions before the public,” he said.

The Marikina solon made this impassioned pitch on Wednesday night, Sept. 17 during the Committee on Appropriations' marathon budget hearing with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)--easily the agency with the most contentious funding under the P6.793-trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP).

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon backed the proposal, and said it aligns with the administration’s push for greater accountability.

“We absolutely agree with the recommendations of [Rep. Quimbo]. Tama po iyan at tingin ko iyan din ang gusto ng ating Pangulo (That’s the right thing to do and I think that's also what President Marcos wants),” Dizon said.

The appropriations panel deferred the budget hearing of the DPWH last Sept. 5 to make way for the complete overhaul of the agency’s P881-billion budget next year. This was because the DPWH's budget under the 2026 NEP as prepared by the DBM was riddled with questionable insertions when it comes to infrastructure projects.

Dizon earlier agreed with the House leaders' take there were so many unacceptable entries in the DPWH's outlay.

But the House leaders have claimed that some of the entries weren't even made by the solons--they were placed in the NEP at the very start, meaning they emanated from the executive branch and not the legislature.

Quimbo disclosed that his district will receive P486 million under the DPWH budget, which he estimated to be among the lowest 20 percent of congressional districts. Still, he said he was willing to defend the allocation.

“I accept the decision. My job is to fight for Marikina and defend what we receive before my people. Every lawmaker should do the same,” he said.