House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III has rejected claims that budget insertions are being made in the ongoing Bicameral Conference Committee (Bicam) deliberations on the 2026 Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget.

In a statement Wednesday morning, Dec. 17, Dy said reports suggesting that lawmakers were secretly adding funds or provisions during the bicameral process were false, misleading, and misrepresented how the national budget is finalized.

“Nais ko lang pong itama ang mga kumakalat na ispekulasyon: Wala pong nangyayaring ‘insertion’ o palihim na pagdaragdag ng pondo o probisyon sa [bicam ] (I just want to correct the speculations that are spreading: There is no 'insertion' or secret addition of funds or provisions in the [bicam]),” said Dy.

He stressed that all items in the House version of the budget underwent the proper process and were approved by members of the House of Representatives before the bicam even began.

“Lahat po ng nilalaman ng ating panukalang batas—kasama na ang mga pondo, probisyon, at programa—ay dumaan sa tamang proseso. Iyan ay inaprubahan ng buong House of Representatives sa ikatlong pagbasa, at bago pa man magsimula ang bicam, naipasa na ito,” the Speaker said.

(All the contents of our proposed law—including the funds, provisions, and programs—went through the proper process. These were approved by the entire House of Representatives on third reading, and even before the [bicam] began, it had already been passed.)

The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) recently tagged Dy, whose represents the 6th district of Isabela, as having the largest insertions in DPWH's budget next year. Dy reportedly has insertions worth P23 billion, topping everyone in the 300-plus strong House of Representatives.

Coming in a far second according to PCIJ is House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela "Mika" Suansing, with P1.8 billion worth of insertions.

Dy explained that the role of the bicam is limited to harmonizing conflicting provisions in the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) versions passed separately by the House and the Senate--not to introduce new items or provisions that were not previously approved.

“Ang tungkulin ng bicam ay pag-isahin ang bersyon ng Senado at Kamara—hindi para magpasok ng bago o ilusot ang hindi napagkasunduan. Kaya mali po at hindi makatotohanan ang sinasabing may ‘insertions’ sa bicam,” he said.

(The duty of the bicam is to reconcile the versions of the Senate and the House—not to introduce new items or sneak in anything that was not agreed upon. That is why the claim that there are “insertions” in the bicam is false and baseless.)

The Speaker underscored that there was nothing irregular or concealed in the House’s handling of the budget. He emphasized that the process was conducted openly and within the bounds of the law.

“Ang katotohanan: Walang iligal, walang palihim, at walang panlilinlang na nangyayari sa ating panig (The truth: There is nothing illegal, nothing secret, and nothing deceptive happening on our part),"

Dy says he remains committed to a transparent and orderly legislative process, noting that the budget is crafted to serve the public interest rather than any individual or political agenda.

“Bilang Speaker ng Kamara, ako po ay naninindigan sa malinis, maayos, at tapat na proseso ng paggawa ng budget. Ginagawa po natin ito hindi para sa pansariling interes kundi para sa ikabubuti ng bawat Pilipino.”

(As Speaker of the House, I stand firm on a clean, orderly, and honest process of crafting the budget. We do this not for personal interest but for the good of every Filipino.)

The proposed 2026 outlay is worth P6.793 trillion, the largest in the country’s history.