MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has submitted additional supporting documents to convince the Senate finance committee to restore the P54 billion cut from the department's proposed 2026 national budget. Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, in his letter dated Dec. 15, 2025 to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, committee chairman, acknowledged and apologized for the initial insufficient data on the Constructions Materials Price Date (CMPD) but which has since been updated to show "project-category-based data, reflecting the effects of CMPD adjustments after considering key variables, such as localized market behaviors, unique site conditions, and critical hauling distances." "While this cannot be a substitute for a per-project application of the CMPD reductions, the updated adjustment factors now incorporate additional costs typically incurred during actual project implementation, particularly the cost implications of hauling materials from their sources to potential project sites," it added. Dizon said that by explicitly accounting for logistical considerations, the resulting adjustment factors were more aligned with actual project conditions. He assured the Finance Committee that the DPWH was fully committed to transparency and to ensuring that all adjustments were made with technical integirty and operational feasibility. Dizon also assured the committee that the updated CMPD would be strictly applied on a project per project basis under the 2026 DPWH national budget, in accordance with Department Order 210. Issued by Dizon on Dec. 11, 2025, DO 210 strictly mandates all implementing offices to apply the reduced cost of materials to ensure that project costs accurately reflect prevailing market conditions. "Should any priority project nonetheless become unimplementable, the Department will seek appropriate funding augmentation from the Office of the President, including the use of generated savings within the DPWH," added Dizon.