The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is preparing to roll out a new budgeting formula aimed at eliminating so-called “allocables”—a long-criticized system long associated with discretionary control and corruption risks in infrastructure spending.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon confirmed that the department, through Undersecretary Nick Conti, has finalized a proposal that would replace the existing framework with a more transparent, data-driven allocation model. The new system is designed to ensure that projects included in the national budget are based on necessity, technical merit, and measurable impact—not political discretion.

Dizon explained that the reform seeks to remove what many lawmakers have described as a “pork-like” mechanism embedded in the old allocables structure. Under the current system, infrastructure projects could be distributed across districts regardless of population size, land area, or urgency—raising long-standing concerns about fairness and accountability.

According to DPWH officials, the proposed formula will prioritize objective indicators such as need, development gaps, and regional equity. Once finalized, it will be submitted for approval by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. before full implementation.

The announcement comes amid renewed scrutiny of past budgeting practices, particularly following reports involving files allegedly linked to previous allocable formulas. Dizon stressed that all documents related to earlier systems are now under the custody of the Office of the Ombudsman and subject to forensic review, underscoring the administration’s commitment to institutional accountability.

For reform advocates, the shift represents more than a technical adjustment—it signals an attempt to close loopholes that have historically enabled political interference in public works funding.

Whether the new system succeeds will depend not just on design, but on consistent enforcement. Still, the message is clear: infrastructure spending is moving toward rules, not favors.