MANILA – Tensions flared during the third day of livestreamed bicameral conference committee deliberations on the 2026 national budget on Monday, December 15, 2025, as several senators pushed back against Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon‘s presentation on his department’s funding adjustments, declaring pointedly: “We trust you, Secretary Dizon, but we do not trust DPWH officers.” The remark, echoing concerns over the P20-billion flood control corruption scandal involving ghost projects and kickbacks, underscored lawmakers’ wariness of institutional rot beneath Dizon’s reformist facade.
The exchange erupted when Dizon sought to explain revisions to the Construction Materials Price Data (CMPD)—a key index he lowered upon assuming office to curb overpricing, only to request partial restorations via a recent letter. Senators, led by Sherwin Gatchalian and Imee Marcos, questioned the timing and necessity, with one quipping the trust line amid chuckles but clear seriousness. Dizon, appointed for his cost-cutting zeal, responded calmly: “I understand the skepticism—my mandate is to clean up, and these adjustments reflect accurate costs without padding.”
The DPWH’s proposed P598-billion slice—down from higher House/Senate asks—remains under microscope, with senators probing potential insertions and unprogrammed funds vulnerable to abuse. The scandal, implicating contractors like Sarah Discaya and officials in phantom dikes, has made infrastructure budgets a lightning rod, delaying bicam progress.
House counterparts defended Dizon’s expertise, with appropriations chair Mikaela Suansing insisting his input clarifies “technical realities” for fair allocations. Yet, the senators’ retort highlights a broader distrust: Reforms from the top may shine, but field-level execution often dims.
As talks drag into overtime—potentially spilling post-Christmas—the “trust you, not them” barb captures the bicam’s bind: In a graft-shadowed budget season, personal credibility clashes with institutional scars, testing if transparency triumphs over tradition.
Bicam Session Snapshot:
| Issue | Senate Stance | House/Dizon Position |
|---|---|---|
| CMPD Adjustments | Skeptical of restorations; probe overpricing risks | Accurate costs; no padding |
| DPWH Budget | Scrutiny for insertions/ghost projects | Technical needs for resilient infra |
| Trust Dynamic | “We trust Dizon, not officers” | Personal mandate for cleanup |