Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri on Tuesday, Dec. 16, expressed full support for the Senate panel in the Bicameral Conference Committee (bicam) amid a reported deadlock over proposed cuts in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget.

In an interview, Zubiri stressed that the chamber will not agree to the restoration of what it considers “fat” or overpriced items.

Zubiri said he fully supports the bicam leadership and the Senate’s position to remove what it sees as excesses in the DPWH budget, noting that allegations of overpricing were raised by the department itself and even by the President.

“Sila nagsabi na may overpricing. Pati si Presidente nagsabi, may overpricing. So ibig sabihin niyan, tanggalin namin dito yung taba (They were the ones who said there was overpricing. Even the President said there was overpricing. So that means we should remove the fat from this),” Zubiri said, questioning why the proposed reductions were being pushed for restoration.

He warned against reinstating allegedly overpriced items, saying it would be tantamount to repeating past practices.

“Para pinukpok natin sarili natin ng martilyo sa ulo muli kung maglalagay ulit tayo ng overpriced items sa budget (“It’s like we’re hitting ourselves on the head with a hammer again if we put overpriced items back into the budget),” he said.

Zubiri also raised concerns over additional funding for the Department of Agriculture’s farm-to-market roads, citing around ₱8 billion to ₱9 billion allegedly lacking specific line items, which he described as resembling a lump-sum allocation.

On whether the Senate would agree to return the ₱45 billion cut from the DPWH budget, Zubiri said the Upper Chamber’s position remains firm following multiple caucuses.

“Our stand is not to give back the ₱45 billion as a whole,” he said, noting that Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon had proposed a recomputation.

Zubiri said the Senate would require the recomputed figures to be shown per item to ensure transparency.

“Hindi po pwede across the board ibalik lang yan (You can’t just restore that across the board),” he said, warning against a scenario where politically influential projects are restored in full while others suffer deeper cuts.

Asked whether the Senate position could still change if the DPWH submission is justified, Zubiri said it remains possible but emphasized the need for careful scrutiny, citing past scandals involving allegedly missing funds and stressing that the Senate should take a firm stand.

Zubiri said he could not speak for individual bicam members on whether they would attend a meeting that day, but reiterated his support for the Senate panel’s decisions as majority leader.

On the possibility of a reenacted budget, Zubiri said he was not opposed to it, citing the experience of the United States, which has operated without an approved budget for extended periods.

He also said restoring the ₱45 billion cut would run counter to the President’s directive to reduce infrastructure costs.

“Kung ibabalik natin yun, mali eh, sobrang mali (If we restore that, it’s wrong—very wrong),” he said.