More than 40 party-list groups are linked to over ₱14.4 billion in proposed projects in the Department of Public Works and Highways’ 2025 budget, according to documents dubbed the “DPWH leaks.” The documents show that these groups sponsored line items across various infrastructure programs, with top allocations going to Ang Probinsyano Party-list (₱2.1B), Ako Bicol Party-list (₱1.4B), and 4PS Party-list (₱1.1B).
MANILA, Philippines – A bombshell report, citing leaked documents from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), reveals that over 40 party-list organizations in the 19th Congress have allegedly endorsed projects worth billions of pesos, which have been included in the proposed 2025 budget of the DPWH. The total value of these sponsored line items reportedly exceeds a staggering ₱14.4 billion.
The leaked documents, referred to as the ‘DPWH leaks,’ indicate a pervasive linkage between party-list representatives and infrastructure projects slated for funding. These projects are categorized under various allocations within the DPWH’s National Expenditure Program, including the Basic Infrastructure Program Regular, Basic Infrastructure Program Leadership, and direct requests or proposals from party-list representatives.
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Top Party-Lists by Project Amount
| Party-List | Representative | Proposed Project Amount | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ang Probinsyano | Rep. Alfred Delos Santos | ₱2.1B | Projects across Bicol, Capiz, Oriental Mindoro, South Cotabato, Surigao del Norte, Batangas, Laguna |
| Ako Bicol | Former Rep. Zaldy Co | ₱1.4B | Mostly in Albay; others in Romblon, Oriental Mindoro |
| 4PS | Rep. Marcelino Libanan | ₱1.1B | Eastern Samar, Maguindanao del Sur, Isabela, Sultan Kudarat, others |
Leading the pack is the Ang Probinsyano Party-list, represented by Rep. Alfred Delos Santos. This group, which purports to champion the interests of farmers, fisherfolk, and marginalized rural communities, has reportedly endorsed projects valued at over ₱2.1 billion. These proposed projects are geographically dispersed, with allocations identified in Bicol, Capiz, Oriental Mindoro, South Cotabato, Surigao del Norte, Batangas, Laguna, and other provinces.
Following closely is the Ako Bicol Party-list. At the time of the alleged endorsements, the group was reportedly headed by former Rep. Zaldy Co. Their proposed projects amount to over ₱1.4 billion, with a significant concentration in Albay, and additional allocations in Romblon and Oriental Mindoro.
Securing the third position is the 4PS Party-list, led by Rep. Marcelino Libanan. This party-list, which advocates for poverty alleviation and social welfare programs for beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, has allegedly endorsed projects totaling more than ₱1.1 billion. These projects are reportedly situated in Eastern Samar, Maguindanao del Sur, Isabela, Sultan Kudarat, and other areas.
Other Party-Lists with Proposed Projects
Also named in the extensive documents are Manila Teachers, Magsasaka, Agimat, Kalinga, United Senior Citizens, 1-PACMAN, Abang Lingkod, Alona, BHW, GP Party, AAMBIS-OWA, Abono, AGRI, Ako Bisaya, Ako Ilocano Ako, API, CWS, Kusug Tausug, Malasakit at Bayanihan, Patrol, Senior Citizens, Bicol Saro, Anakalusugan, COOP-NATCCO, and Marino.
It is crucial to note that these requested projects are reportedly not budget insertions made during the legislative process. Instead, they are described as DPWH line items that were part of the initial budget proposal presented and deliberated upon in Congress prior to the passage of the General Appropriations Act.
| Party-List | Proposed Project Amount |
|---|---|
| SAGIP Social Amelioration & Genuine Intervention on Poverty | ₱660M |
| TGP Talino at Galing ng Pino | ₱550M |
| ACT-CIS Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support | ₱460M |
| Bagong Henerasyon | ₱460M |
| LPGMA | ₱460M |
| 1-RIDER | ₱420M |
| OFW | ₱413M |
| AGAP | ₱410M |
| Tingog | ₱350M |
| Uswag Ilonggo | ₱336.4M |
| PHILRECA | ₱330M |
| APEC | ₱263M |
| Kabayan | ₱260M |
Additional Party-Lists Named in Documents
| Party-List |
|---|
| Manila Teachers |
| Magsasaka |
| Agimat |
| Kalinga |
| United Senior Citizens |
| 1-PACMAN |
| Abang Lingkod |
| Alona |
| BHW |
| GP Party |
| AAMBIS-OWA |
| Abono |
| AGRI |
| Ako Bisaya |
| Ako Ilocano Ako |
| API |
| CWS |
| Kusug Tausug |
| Malasakit at Bayanihan |
| Patrol |
| Senior Citizens |
| Bicol Saro |
| Anakalusugan |
| COOP-NATCCO |
| Marino |
Alleged Political Interventions
While the projects listed in the leaks are not direct “budget insertions,” they are line items formally included in the DPWH budget proposal submitted to Congress, debated, and eventually incorporated into the National Expenditure Program before the passage of the General Appropriations Act.
In a sworn affidavit, former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo described the process of drafting the department’s budget proposal and detailed alleged interventions by politicians and other officials. He claimed that pressure can occur as early as the Regional Development Council consultation stage, where DPWH officials, local government units, and other stakeholders meet. According to Bernardo, some senators, congressmen, executive officials, and local executives reportedly pressure district engineers to submit lists of projects that could be promoted during budget deliberations.
Bernardo emphasized that the preparation of the budget proposal should be strictly managed by DPWH officials, yet he alleged that former undersecretary Catalina Cabral personally approached officials asking if they had “wishlists” of projects they wanted included. The affidavit suggests that these wishlists could be tied to kickback schemes orchestrated by certain individuals within the agency and among external officials.
“I was present in a meeting in June 2025 where a former undersecretary Catalina Cabral personally asked each attending director, ‘Do you have a wishlist from your congressman? Send it to me, I will make sure it gets into the NEP,’” Bernardo’s affidavit reads. He alleged that Cabral could be “compelled to accommodate wishlists promoted by officials involved in kickback schemes,” though he did not name specific kickback recipients.
Bernardo resigned in October 2025, citing “irreconcilable differences” with the agency’s political direction. The DPWH, in a statement, dismissed Bernardo’s claims as “unsubstantiated” and said all projects in the NEP undergo “rigorous technical and legal review.”
Questions About Transparency and Accountability
The revelations from the DPWH leaks raise fundamental concerns about transparency, accountability, and the integrity of the budget process. Critics argue that the apparent channeling of billions of pesos toward projects proposed by party-list representatives blurs the line between legitimate infrastructure planning and politically motivated allocation.
Experts warn that such practices can undermine public trust, distort development priorities, and compromise the equitable distribution of resources across regions. With billions of taxpayer pesos at stake, the leaks highlight the need for closer scrutiny of how party-list advocacy intersects with the national budgeting process.
The DPWH, the Office of the President, and Congress have yet to issue formal responses to the documents. Lawmakers, civil society groups, and watchdogs are expected to call for investigations to determine whether these proposed projects were selected based on merit or political influence.
As the Philippines moves closer to finalizing the 2025 General Appropriations Act, the revelations from the DPWH budget leaks underscore the ongoing tension between legislative influence and bureaucratic responsibility—a tension that could have far-reaching implications for governance, development, and public trust.
Legal and Constitutional Questions
Constitutional law experts are now questioning whether party-list groups constitutionally mandated to represent “marginalized and underrepresented sectors” should be sponsoring district-based infrastructure projects at all.
“The party-list system is not a second district fund,” said Dean Antonio La Viña of the Ateneo School of Government. “When a party-list representing senior citizens funnels ₱550 million into a road in Camarines Sur, where is the sectoral link? That looks less like representation and more like a pork barrel by another name.”
The 2013 Supreme Court ruling declaring the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) unconstitutional commonly known as the “pork barrel” ban did not explicitly prohibit party-list groups from endorsing projects. However, anti-corruption advocates argue that the DPWH Leaks demonstrate a circumvention of the spirit of that ruling.
“The PDAF was struck down because it allowed legislators to bypass the executive’s project evaluation process,” said Mary Grace Factor of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ). “What we’re seeing here is identical: a party-list representative ‘endorses’ a project, and the DPWH inserts it. The only difference is the name of the fund.”
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