‘Flood control budget won’t go to corruption’

MANILA, Philippines — The outlay for flood control projects to be included in the 2027 national budget won’t go to corruption, Malacañang said yesterday, as it vowed to closely monitor the use of funds to prevent a repeat of the multibillion-peso corruption scandal.

During his visit to Cebu last Monday, President Marcos announced that next year’s budget would contain allocations for flood control structures to ensure the safety of communities from natural disasters.

He also vowed to ensure that the flood control allocations would not be touched once it undergoes the budget process.

Palace press officer Claire Castro said stalled legitimate flood mitigation structures have to be funded, otherwise they would end up becoming ghost projects.

Asked how the administration would ensure that there would be no repeat of the massive flood control corruption, Castro replied: “That is the promise of President Marcos Jr. and of course, (Public Works) Secretary Vince Dizon is there.”

“Everyone is monitoring, including the DBM (Department of Budget and Management) and the money won’t be provided if the project is not right,” she added.

During his fourth State of the Nation Address last July, Marcos called for an investigation on substandard and non-existent flood control projects, citing the need to run after corrupt officials and contractors who “stole the future” of disaster-hit communities.

Two months later, Marcos disclosed that flood control projects would not get any allocation in the 2026 budget, saying they do not need to be funded since the P350-billion outlay for 2025 has not been fully spent.

“It doesn’t mean our flood control projects will be stopped. It means we will now ensure that the spending and implementation are done properly, that the design is correct, et cetera, et cetera.”