Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday raised alarm over the persistent and increasing double appropriations in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), calling out the agency’s repeated failure to address the issue despite years of scrutiny.

Speaking during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing titled The Philippines Under Water”—which is investigating alleged corruption in flood control and ghost infrastructure projects—Cayetano grilled DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral over what he described as a recurring and worsening budget anomaly.

“Every year, tinatanong ko po itong double appropriations. Every year, sinasabi ninyo na harmless at mistake lang ito. Pero rather than nababawas, dumadagdag ito every year. Bakit hindi matanggal ito?” Cayetano asked.

The senator revealed that double entries in the national budget have ballooned from ₱2.77 billion in 2023 to ₱7.85 billion in 2025, despite repeated assurances from DPWH that the issue would be resolved.

“Sa 2024 din, imbis na bawasan, ₱3.48 billion ang double appropriation. Binanggit ko uli ito. Sabi uli ng DPWH, aayusin din nila. Tapos in the 2025 budget, ₱7.85 billion ang double appropriations,” he added.

Cayetano, who serves as Senior Vice Chair of the committee, said he has consistently flagged the issue during budget deliberations, often alongside former Minority Leader Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. He also questioned whether similar discrepancies exist in the proposed 2026 budget, to which Cabral responded she was unaware.

The senator further pressed Cabral on whether the DPWH had investigated if both appropriations were processed and paid, but received no clear answer.

Frustrated by the agency’s lack of initiative, Cayetano criticized DPWH’s transparency and investigative efforts, referencing past probes including the collapsed Cabagan-Sta. Maria bridge.

“Kapag may imbestigasyon na anito, para kaming dentista na kailangan hilahin ang ipin na walang anesthesia. Kailangan bunutan parati. Bakit gano’n ang DPWH?” he said.

The hearing continues as lawmakers seek accountability and reforms in infrastructure budgeting and implementation.