Escudero files bill to curb overpricing of infra projects

Senator Francis Escudero has filed a measure seeking to institutionalize a uniform system for determining the cost of infrastructure projects to prevent overpricing and promote fiscal discipline.

Senate Bill No. 1467, or the proposed “Act Institutionalizing a Detailed Unit Price Analysis System (DUPA) in the Determination of Appropriations for Any and All Infrastructure Projects,” requires that all public infrastructure appropriations reflect actual market costs supported by clear technical documentation.

“Hindi puwedeng tantiyahan lang ang halaga ng proyekto. Dapat may batayan, may detalye, at may pananagutan (Project costs cannot be based on rough estimates. They must be supported by details and accountability),” Escudero said.

He explained that the bill builds on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to reduce construction material costs by up to 50 percent and institutionalize transparency reforms initiated by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon.

For Fiscal Year 2026, Escudero noted that the public infrastructure budget is expected to reach PHP1.56 trillion, or 22.94 percent of the national expenditure program.

“Despite the fiscal impact of infrastructure projects, the manner by which their appropriations are determined remains arbitrary, inconsistent, and susceptible to distortion and misrepresentation,” he said in his explanatory note.

Escudero sent a copy of the bill to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, urging its inclusion in the ongoing 2026 budget deliberations.

He emphasized that the Detailed Unit Price Analysis (DUPA) system should be a prerequisite for including any infrastructure project in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) and the General Appropriations Act (GAA), as well as for fund release or procurement.

“Kapag malinaw ang presyo ng bawat pako, semento, at serbisyo, mas nagiging tapat ang paggastos ng gobyerno. Mas nakikita ng taumbayan kung saan napupunta ang bawat piso (When every nail, bag of cement, and service is clearly priced, government spending becomes more honest—and the public can see where every peso goes),” he said.

Under SB 1467, all infrastructure projects—whether single-year or multi-year—must include a DUPA document detailing labor, equipment, materials, and other related expenses. Projects without such documentation cannot be included in the national budget or implemented.