Polong got P51 billion in flood control projects – Cabral

MANILA, Philippines — Davao City Rep. Paolo “Polong” Duterte’s district received a total of P51 billion in flood control projects at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a ranking official of the Department of Public Works and Highways said yesterday.

DPWH Undersecretary for planning Maria Catalina Cabral issued the statement at a hearing of the House committee on infrastructure after a series of questions from lawmakers.

Manila Rep. Joel Chua pressed her to state on record how much Duterte’s district was allocated from 2020 to 2022.

After initially hesitating, Cabral finally replied, “Yes, Your Honor,” confirming that the amount reached P51 billion based on records of the National Expenditure Program and the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

House Deputy Speaker and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin followed up, questioning whether such funds should have been spent instead on pandemic response, given the urgency of procuring medicines and equipment during the nationwide health crisis.

“In your personal view, if you were the decision maker, do you think this is better spent in the pandemic…instead of spending in flood control?” Garin asked.

“You asked for my personal opinion, and I would say yes,” Cabral replied.

Responding to Cabral’s admission, Polong confirmed and defended the allocations.

“Let me say this straight, Davao has nothing to hide. If you want to see the ghost projects under that P51 billion, just go ahead and investigate it. Show them all the records, there on the ground. The truth is there, the projects that have been implemented,” he told the committee.

Budget records reflect the extraordinary size of these allocations.

In 2020, the Duterte administration proposed P4.6 billion for flood control, but the final GAA raised this to P13.7 billion.

In 2021, the proposed P9.67 billion ballooned to P25 billion in the enacted budget.

Cabral acknowledged that her office oversaw these line-item budgets, even as much of the country was under strict lockdowns. — Jose Rodel Clapano