The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced that funds for infrastructure projects will now be released as a lump sum instead of in tranches, aiming to prevent delays and misuse of government resources.

MANILA — January 13, 2026. DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon confirmed that the agency will shift to lump sum disbursement for projects such as classrooms, roads, bridges, and hospitals. He explained that releasing funds in batches often stalls implementation and opens opportunities for corruption. 

“Bakit tingi-tingi? Eh diretsyahan na lang tayo. ‘Di ba kasi yung mga pondo nilalagay sa mga project na pinagnanakawan na. Ayun ang totoo,” Dizon said in an interview, stressing that the new system is designed to ensure faster completion and reduce fund diversion.

Dizon added that the directive is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s commitment to complete priority infrastructure projects within the year. “Ang commitment ni Presidente is kung ano ang kailangang pondo para matapos na ito next year, lahat ng pondo kailangan ilagay na natin sa budget,” he said, noting that the government wants to avoid the inefficiencies caused by piecemeal funding.

The DPWH has faced criticism in recent years over stalled or incomplete projects, with watchdog groups pointing to issues of overpricing, ghost projects, and fund misuse. By releasing the full budget upfront, the agency hopes to strengthen accountability and accelerate construction timelines.

The move comes as the DPWH’s 2026 budget was reduced to ₱529.67 billion, down from the ₱881.3 billion originally proposed in the National Expenditure Program. The agency has also been directed to focus on maintaining existing flood control infrastructure rather than funding new projects, with ₱2.49 billion allocated for maintenance and operations such as dredging, declogging, and repair.

Observers say the lump sum disbursement policy could be a double-edged sword. While it may speed up project completion, it also requires strict monitoring to ensure funds are not misused. Transparency portals such as the DPWH Infrastructure Projects Portal are expected to play a key role in tracking expenditures and project progress.

The DPWH emphasized that the change is part of broader reforms to streamline infrastructure spending and restore public trust. With major projects in education, health, and transportation on the line, the agency assured that safeguards would be in place to prevent irregularities.

Lump Sum Funding, Lump Sum Risk 

Releasing project funds in full sounds decisive. Faster money, faster roads, faster classrooms. But in an agency long haunted by ghost projects and stalled builds, speed can cut two ways. When billions move quicker, they can also disappear quicker.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon admits the old system invited abuse. That honesty matters. Still, changing how money flows does not automatically change how it is guarded. Lump sum disbursement raises the stakes. Without airtight audits, real time tracking, and consequences that actually bite, this reform risks becoming a shortcut for faster plunder.

Public trust was not lost because projects were slow. It was lost because money vanished. With the Department of Public Works and Highways betting on speed, the real test is simple. Are safeguards moving just as fast, or are we rushing headlong into the same old problem with a new label?