Leviste Bares Multi-Billion-Peso DPWH Budget Insertions, Points to Lawmakers, Senators, Local Execs

Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste

Leviste Bares Multi-Billion-Peso DPWH Budget Insertions, Points to Lawmakers, Senators, Local Execs

By Wilma N. Yamzon & Bing Jabadan – TheNATIONWEEK.Com | December 26, 2025

MANILA, Philippines – Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste has alleged widespread budget insertions within the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), potentially implicating senators, congressmen, executive officials, and private individuals.

Based on documents obtained from the late DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, Leviste claims each congressman and party-list representative receives at least ₱150 million annually in DPWH allocations, a figure he calls a “basic allocation” that can balloon into hundreds of millions or even billions of pesos.

The allegations, revealed this week, center around a complex system of budget insertions, wherein individuals submit projects for inclusion in the DPWH budget.

Leviste points out that these insertions, while not inherently illegal, become problematic when officials or their associates personally benefit, citing examples of questionable flood control contracts.

The ‘BBM Parametric Formula,’ Discrepancies in Allocation

According to Leviste, the documents detail a system of “allocables,” ceiling budgets for each DPWH engineering office, determined by Cabral’s “BBM parametric formula.”

This formula purportedly factors in population, poverty, and disaster recovery needs.

However, Leviste highlights inconsistencies, noting that smaller provinces sometimes receive larger allocations than larger ones, raising questions about the formula’s true application.

A Massive Unaccounted Sum: ₱320 Billion Outside the Formula

The 2025 DPWH budget reportedly included ₱401 billion in allocables determined by the formula.

However, a staggering ₱320 billion existed “outside” the formula because of budget submissions from lawmakers, senators, executive officials, and private individuals.

Leviste claims senators alone accounted for ₱21 billion of the off-formula insertions, hinting that “all” senators may be implicated, though he acknowledges denial by some, including his mother, Sen. Loren Legarda.

Who Instructed Cabral?

At the heart of the controversy lies the question of who directed Cabral to prepare detailed allocations.

Leviste describes the documents as comprising hundreds of pages, containing over 17,000 line items spread across 15 Excel tabs.

He has withheld the documents for now, placing the onus on DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon to decide on their public disclosure.

Cabral’s Death Leaves Many Unanswered Questions

Cabral’s death has added a layer of complexity to the situation, raising concerns about the preservation of evidence.

This has prompted House minority members to file resolutions calling for an independent investigation.

Why has Secretary Dizon not yet publicly disclosed the contents of these documents?

This remains a critical question, fueling speculation and demanding transparency in the face of these serious allegations.

The public awaits Dizon’s decision, which will undoubtedly shape the course of the unfolding scandal.

The Fallout, Potential Implications

Leviste’s revelations have sent shockwaves through the political landscape, raising serious questions about transparency, accountability, and potential corruption within the DPWH.

The identities of the senators, congressmen, and executive officials implicated in these budget insertions remain shrouded in secrecy, intensifying public scrutiny and demanding a thorough and independent investigation.

The investigation’s findings could have significant political repercussions, potentially leading to criminal charges and a shakeup within the government.