Flood control projects face P71.7-B budget cut

Days after President Marcos publicly raised his suspicion of corruption in public works projects, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced yesterday a P71.7-billion cut in allocation for flood control infrastructure for next year in the proposed National Expenditure Program (NEP).

- By DELON PORCALLA

At a press briefing yesterday, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman reported a P274.9-billion allocation in the NEP for flood-related projects for 2026, lower than this year's P346.6 billion.

Amid criticisms of the current budget, next year's NEP has no appropriation for the controversial Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program.

AKAP is regarded as a form of pork barrel.

Confidential funds have also been slashed by 11 percent under the NEP.

The bulk of the P274.9 billion allocation or P272.3 billion is for the nationwide flood control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), while the remaining P2.5 billion goes to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority or MMDA.

In his budget message, Marcos said the allocation contained in the NEP will "address the urgent need to invest in long-term solutions for flood regulation and control." The announcement by the DBM came days after the Chief Executive revealed that 15 contractors bagged a fifth of the P545 billion worth of contracts for flood control since 2022.

Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan on Tuesday said a special team of inspectors is conducting an assessment of the projects.

But in a telephone interview with ANC yesterday, Bonoan said the DPWH cannot prevent companies owned by politicians from participating in infrastructure contracts.

“I think our hands are tied with regard to this kind of situation unless there would be an enabling law that would prohibit actually this kind of situations and that could be incorporated in the bidding process,” Bonoan said.