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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Leviste releases expanded list of DPWH budget figures, tells Palace exec Castro to verify them

Leviste releases expanded list of DPWH budget figures, tells Palace exec Castro to verify them

Published Dec 25, 2025 07:03 pm

At A Glance

  • Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste released on Christmas, Thursday, Dec. 25 an expanded list that showed Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget distribution figures for 2023 to 2026 amounting to ₱3.5 trillion.
Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste (Facebook)
Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste (Facebook)


Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste released on Christmas, Thursday, Dec. 25 an expanded list that showed Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget distribution figures for 2023 to 2026 amounting to ₱3.5 trillion.
Leviste did so via Facebook post in what appeared to be a response to Presidential Communications Office ((PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro, who branded the rookie congressman's earlier post on DPWH project figures as "tsismis" or hearsay.
"Narito po ang summary ng DPWH budget per district ng 2023-2026. Dito po makikita kung saan napupunta ang DPWH budget na humigit-kumulang ₱3.5 trillion, na katumbas ng ₱130,000 kada pamilyang Pilipino," Leviste wrote.
(Here is the summary of the DPWH budget per district for 2023-2026. This shows where the DPWH budget of approximately ₱3.5 trillion goes, which is equivalent to ₱130,000 per Filipino family.)
"Ang in-upload ko po kahapon ay 2025, ito naman po ay 2023-2026. Ito po ay base sa datos na ibinigay ng DPWH, with the approval of [DPWH] Secretary Vince Dizon, kasama ng aming kompilasyon ng budget data," he noted.
(What I uploaded yesterday was for 2025; this one is for 2023-2026. This is based on the data provided by the DPWH, with the approval of [DPWH] Secretary Vince Dizon, together with our compilation of budget data.)
Leviste said that reporters covering Malacañang had received the following Viber message from Castro on Wednesday, Dec. 24: “The Palace will only respond to the documents authenticated by DPWH. Other than these, they will be considered as hearsay or tsismis which have no probative value.”
This, after the Batangas lawmaker released the DPWH budget per district and solon-proponents' names under the 2025 national budget. It was 19 pages long.
His upload Thursday was composed of 62 pages and covered the entirety of the Marcos administration.
"USec Claire can confirm with Sec Vince the data, which were provided by DPWH with Sec Vince’s approval. He and I discussed releasing this to the public in September, but I understand if DPWH hasn’t released it yet, because many people on this list have asked me not to release it too,” said Leviste, who had presented himself as an anti-infrastructure corruption crusader.
For context, P3.5 trillion is more than half of the proposed P6.793 trillion national budget for 2026.
'Hindi po imbento'
Earlier Thursday, Leviste claimed that DPWH reporters received the list from someone in the agency. He wondered if this meant Dizon already gave his "go signal" for the list's release.
At any rate, Leviste claimed that this proved the authenticity of the list. "Nililinaw ko po na hindi sa akin nagmula ang inilalabas ng ibang media. Patunay ito na hindi po imbento ang mga files--sapagkat may mga kopya ring nagmumula pa sa DPWH."
(I would like to clarify that what other media are releasing did not come from me. This proves that the files are not fabricated—since there are also copies coming directly from the DPWH.)
Leviste further said that the data can easily be verified based on communications from devices from the office of the late former DPWH undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, her staff, and other DPWH data. He stressed that the agency can confirm the allocations of each district and congressman.
"Kahit wala na po si yumaong USec Cabral, si Sec Vince at ang kanyang team ay makakasagot pa (Even though the late undersecretary Cabral has passed away, Secretary Vince and his team can still provide answers).
"Ako po ay nagpapasalamat muli kay Sec Vince at sa DPWH para sa kanilang push for transparency, at dahil sa kanila ay malalaman na ng publiko ang nilalaman ng DPWH budget. Merry Christmas po sa inyong lahat!" he added.
(I once again extend my gratitude to Sec Vince and the DPWH for their push for transparency, and because of them the public will now know the contents of the DPWH budget. Merry Christmas to all of you!)
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