NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Who Got The Biggest Slice Of DPWH's Unprogrammed Funds
Photo credit: Sunwest Inc.
Here are the top contractors that cornered DPWH projects funded through Unprogrammed Appropriations (UA)—a pool of funds that ballooned to ₱213 billion in 2023 and 2024. In 2024 alone, ₱167 billion was realigned from PhilHealth and the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) to bankroll UA projects.
Unlike regular project insertions, UA-funded projects are not itemized by Congress in the General Appropriations Act. Instead, they are approved as a lump sum, with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) deciding which projects receive funding. Compared to the allocable DPWH budget approved by Congress, UA allocations are far more centralized, resulting in fewer—but much bigger—contractors winning the projects.
In fact, the top 15 UA contractors alone received more than 30 percent of the entire UA budget, highlighting just how concentrated the spending has been.
For transparency, it is important for the public to see which projects are funded in each district and how government money is being spent. Most UA-funded projects, based on available data, are flood control projects.
It is also worth noting that Congress does not choose UA projects—that power rests with the Executive branch. Yet many UA-funded projects have been flagged as substandard and overpriced, raising a crucial question: who were the proponents that benefited most from these projects?
Based on the data shown by Rep. Leandro Leviste, the top contractors for DPWH UA-funded projects include:
1. Sunwest, Inc.
2. MG Samidan Construction
3. Newbig Four J Construction Inc.
4. Aqualine Construction
5. Le Bron Construction
6.D.T. Recio, Incorporated
7. Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc.
8. Eight J’s Construction Services
9. Silverwolves Construction Corporation
10. Legacy Construction Corporation
11. Hi-Tone Construction & Development Corp.
12. Waycon Builders & Construction Supply Corp.
13. QM Builders
14. Anore Construction
15. Alrie Construction Services
16. Vicente T. Lao Construction
17. C.T. Leonico Construction and Trading
18. Newington Builders, Inc.
19. JJPR Construction Services
20. STX Enterprises
The corresponding contract amounts for each company are shown in the accompanying image.
As scrutiny over government spending intensifies, calls are growing for greater transparency, clearer project disclosure, and stronger oversight—especially for massive UA-funded projects that rely on public money.
Unlike regular project insertions, UA-funded projects are not itemized by Congress in the General Appropriations Act. Instead, they are approved as a lump sum, with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) deciding which projects receive funding. Compared to the allocable DPWH budget approved by Congress, UA allocations are far more centralized, resulting in fewer—but much bigger—contractors winning the projects.
In fact, the top 15 UA contractors alone received more than 30 percent of the entire UA budget, highlighting just how concentrated the spending has been.
For transparency, it is important for the public to see which projects are funded in each district and how government money is being spent. Most UA-funded projects, based on available data, are flood control projects.
It is also worth noting that Congress does not choose UA projects—that power rests with the Executive branch. Yet many UA-funded projects have been flagged as substandard and overpriced, raising a crucial question: who were the proponents that benefited most from these projects?
Based on the data shown by Rep. Leandro Leviste, the top contractors for DPWH UA-funded projects include:
1. Sunwest, Inc.
2. MG Samidan Construction
3. Newbig Four J Construction Inc.
4. Aqualine Construction
5. Le Bron Construction
6.D.T. Recio, Incorporated
7. Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc.
8. Eight J’s Construction Services
9. Silverwolves Construction Corporation
10. Legacy Construction Corporation
11. Hi-Tone Construction & Development Corp.
12. Waycon Builders & Construction Supply Corp.
13. QM Builders
14. Anore Construction
15. Alrie Construction Services
16. Vicente T. Lao Construction
17. C.T. Leonico Construction and Trading
18. Newington Builders, Inc.
19. JJPR Construction Services
20. STX Enterprises
The corresponding contract amounts for each company are shown in the accompanying image.
As scrutiny over government spending intensifies, calls are growing for greater transparency, clearer project disclosure, and stronger oversight—especially for massive UA-funded projects that rely on public money.
Jan 21, 2026
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