P50 billion in unprogrammed funds diverted to DPWH in 2024 — Lacson
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson flagged the P50 billion transferred from unprogrammed appropriations (UA) to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for infrastructure programs—with a whopping P30 billion for flood control projects alone.
Lacson, who is eyeing a possible return as the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chair, is seeking to expand the Congressional probe from flood control projects to other anomalous infrastructure efforts.
"In 2024 alone, the DPWH diverted P50 billion from unprogrammed appropriations for infrastructure projects, including P30 billion for flood control projects. This means DPWH officials have become comfortable with funding such projects even if this means violating the government's master plan," Lacson said in a media interview.
In the 2024 national budget, the DPWH was given a whopping P996.7 billion, while unprogrammed funds were set at P731.4 billion. Both the 2024 DPWH and the UA budgets were increased beyond what the executive branch asked for.
Lacson said that the appropriations would be spread out across several districts.
“The public fund was abused because of the collusion between some lawmakers and DPWH officials, to the point that lawmakers gave the DPWH bigger funds than the education sector - and in 2025, they continued this practice until it exploded in our faces," the senator said.
Following the DPWH’s flood control corruption scandal, many have turned a scrutinizing eye on the UA. Many have called it a form of pork for politicians.
The Department of Budget and Management has defended the use of UA funds, calling them standby funds that have specific triggers before they can be used.
Despite this, the Senate is seeking to remove the UA funds in the 2026 national budget in response to the public outcry over mass corruption in government.
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