Senate Considers Flood Control Budget Review
Senators are seriously contemplating the fate of the flood control budget proposal worth P270 billion under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for 2026. Sources close to the Senate Committee on Finance revealed that the allocation might be scrapped if the DPWH fails to address alleged irregularities, including ghost projects in its budget plan.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, shared in an online briefing that multiple senators expressed concerns about the credibility of flood mitigation projects. “Their general sentiment is to just transfer this 270 billion… For now, there are numerous red flags. So the credibility of the projects cannot be assured. So if we don’t do that and there are still ghost projects, the ghost projects will just happen again in 2026,” he stated in Filipino.
Senators Demand Transparency and Accountability
Officials reported that more than a dozen senators attending the recent Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) hearing voiced disappointment over the current flood control initiatives. “If you listen to them, each one, generally, they say that this flood control is disappointing and should not be repeated,” Gatchalian added.
As discussions continue, senators are urging the DPWH to submit a revised and detailed budget proposal. “They’re reviewing it, so I expect they’ll return it to us through errata. We’ll still review it, we’ll still look into it because we can’t just take it hook, line, and sinker,” the senator emphasized.
Reallocating Funds to Education Sector
With the flood control budget proposal at risk, community members noted that the P270 billion could be redirected to the Department of Education (DepEd). This move aims to help the government surpass the 4 percent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) target in education spending. “For us to exceed 4 percent of GDP, we need P55 billion. This is the only source we see,” Gatchalian explained.
Existing Flood Control Projects Still Ongoing
Despite the potential reallocation, the senator assured that flood mitigation efforts will continue. He clarified that many projects funded in previous years are still underway. “I’m very sure there are still many left from 2025. So, we will examine the underspending. As far as I know, the remaining flood control funds from the previous budget are approximately P350 billion. The remaining ones are ongoing because they are ongoing (projects),” Gatchalian said.
According to local leaders, the combined flood control budget from 2023 to 2024 totals nearly P600 billion, with about P350 billion still unspent. “So, in other words, even if we don’t put anything in, the construction of these flood control projects will still continue, provided they are not ghosts. They will still continue to be constructed this 2026,” the senator added.
DPWH Reforms Under Close Watch
Officials highlighted that Congress will continue evaluating the DPWH budget proposal. Meanwhile, Gatchalian is personally monitoring reforms within the agency. He praised the recent dismissal of Henry Alcantara, a former engineer linked to questionable infrastructure projects in Bulacan. “It’s good that Alcantara has been removed because if you just transfer him, he will only transfer his corrupt practices. So this will also go hand in hand with the reforms in the DPWH,” the senator remarked.
Ultimately, the retention of the P270 billion budget depends on the DPWH’s ability to submit a comprehensive, well-justified proposal. “If it is well-organized, for example, it is justified, there is a feasibility study, there is detailed engineering, there are no duplications, then potentially their budget can be retained,” Gatchalian said.
The Senate’s budget hearing for the DPWH’s 2026 proposal is scheduled for the first week of October, community sources noted.
For more news and updates on flood control budget proposal, visit Filipinokami.com.
