Lawmakers Clash Over Flood-Control Budget Allocations
MANILA — The flood-control budget has ignited a heated dispute between Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Alfredo “Pido” Garbin Jr. and Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco. Garbin challenged Tiangco to clarify how the city’s flood-control funds were allocated to aid residents during the rainy season.
Garbin made this call following Tiangco’s allegation that former appropriations committee chairperson and Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co inserted over P13 billion in the 2025 national budget. The flood-control budget issue remains central to their exchange, with both sides defending their actions.
Garbin Questions Tiangco’s Flood-Control Budget Integrity
“You can’t lecture everybody about insertions when your own district mirrors the very abuse you denounce. The truth is simple,” Garbin said, emphasizing the need for transparency. He urged that all budget insertions, including those by Tiangco, be subjected to scrutiny to uphold accountability.
Garbin acknowledged Navotas’ vulnerability to flooding but accused Tiangco of hypocrisy. “Stop your hypocrisy against insertions when billions were coursed to your small district,” he said. He further noted that contracts for flood-control projects in Navotas were awarded to contractors previously flagged by President Marcos and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Controversy Over Contractors and Project Insertions
According to Garbin, about P529 million in insertions linked to flood-control infrastructure in Navotas were funneled to St. Timothy Construction Corp., owned by contractor couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya, among other questioned firms. He warned that more details on Tiangco’s alleged multi-billion-peso insertions would be revealed in due time.
“You rail against alleged insertions by Ako Bicol and other lawmakers, yet billions flowed into your backyard and cornered by contractors the President himself called out,” Garbin added, highlighting the gravity of the accusations.
Tiangco Fires Back, Denies Allegations
In response, Tiangco dismissed Garbin’s accusations, saying the latter seemed to have “lost his mind” while defending Co. “Maybe Cong Garbin is the one who lost his mind thinking of an excuse for his boss, Cong Zaldy Co, that’s why he doesn’t feel the people’s anger over the issue of corruption in the House of Representatives,” Tiangco said in Filipino.
He lamented the perceived damage to the institution’s integrity, stating, “There are many other sensible Congressmen, I just don’t know why the integrity of the institution is being sacrificed to cover up the sins of a few.”
Tiangco also clarified that he has not yet contacted DPWH regarding the contractors who won bids for projects in his district. Previously, he questioned Garbin about whether any of the top 15 contractors, identified by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as recipients of most flood-control projects, had contracts in Ako Bicol areas.
Government Investigates Alleged Ghost Projects
The government is currently probing alleged “ghost projects” related to flood-control initiatives. President Marcos recently disclosed that around 20 percent of the P545-billion flood mitigation budget was awarded to only 15 contractors, raising concerns about transparency and fairness in project distribution.
This ongoing investigation adds urgency to the lawmakers’ dispute over the flood-control budget and its allocation, underscoring the need for accountability in public funds handling.
For more news and updates on flood-control budget, visit Filipinokami.com.
