Past fund abuses will not happen again - Marcos

President Marcos has assured the public that past abuses in flood control and infrastructure projects will not be repeated under his administration, stressing that every peso of public money must directly benefit Filipino families.

- ARGYLL CYRUS GEDUCOS, BETHEENA UNITE, and ELLSON QUISMORIO

Speaking in Gonzaga, Cagayan where he led the distribution of assistance to typhoon-hit residents, the President emphasized the government's accountability in handling taxpayer funds.

(We will make sure what we saw will not happen again)," he said Saturday, Sept. 27.

"Titiyakin po natin na bawat sentimo ng pera ninyo - hindi namin pera ito, pera ninyo na ibinahagi ninyo sa mga opisyal ng pamahalaan (Every centavo is your money, not ours, entrusted to government officials)," he added.

Marcos underscored that government officials merely serve as caretakers of funds entrusted to them.

"Kami po ay kung tawagin ay 'custodian' lang, taga-bantay lang kami sa pera ninyo. Hindi amin 'yan. Sa inyo pa rin 'yan (We are mere custodians, caretakers of your money. It does not belong to us, it belongs to you)," he said.

The President explained that the administration uncovered ghost and substandard flood control projects, prompting him to cancel all such works under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for 2026.

"Kung hindi po natin ginawa 'yan, 'yang P255 billion na 'yan kung saan-saan na lang mapupunta (If we did not do that, the P255 billion would have gone elsewhere)," he said.

"Kaya mabuti, kaya kinansila na po natin lahat ng flood control project para sa 2026 at iyan po ang naging savings natin (That is why we canceled all flood control projects for 2026, and that became our savings)," he added.

He vowed that these funds would be channeled to programs that directly address the needs of communities.

Where the funds will go

Malacañang had earlier said the P255 billion would be realigned to the government's priority programs, including the following: • P60 billion to PhilHealth for Yaman ng Kalusugan (YAKAP), BUCAS centers, and outpatient medications.