CHIZ WANTS FLOOD CONTROL BUDGET SLASHED

SENATE President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero wants to slash P250.8 billion in flood control projects from the P881.3 billion proposed spending plan of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for 2026, saying this allocation should be rechanneled to health, education, and food production.

According to the Senate leader, the nearly quarter-trillion-peso proposed funding for flood control projects accounts for one-third of the entire DPWH project, and 20 times bigger than the amount earmarked for the construction of new school buildings.

“Thirteen billion pesos lang ang para sa mga bagong classrooms tapos baha ang pondo para sa flood control. Mas malaki pa kaysa pondo para sa mga bagong kalye at limang beses ang laki ng pondo kaysa pagpapagawa ng bagong tulay,” the veteran lawmaker noted.

“If we let this stand as it is, this budget will be deluged with criticism. And with the flood control master plan funded to by the Asian Development set to be rolled out next year, underpins the budget cuts in the proposed expenditure package submitted by the DPWH to Congress, he added.

“Mas praktikal at makabubuti na tapyasan na muna ang pondong ilalaan para flood control at ibuhos ito sa mga sektor ng edukasyon, kalusugan, at produksyon ng pagkain habang hinihintay natin ang ADB-funded flood control master plan,” said the veteran legislator.

“Ang pagbabawas ng pondo sa DPWH ay pagbabawas din ng posibilidad ng korpasyon,” Escudero added.

In its submission to the House of Representatives, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)-vetted funding request of the DPWH is seeking P108 billion for “asset preservation;” P182.5 billion for “network development;” P52 billion for bridges;” P15.4 billion for “local programs;” and P167.8 billion for “convergence and special support.”

The Senate chief, however, said the DBM should “recast the DPWH budget and shrink the flood control funds to the required minimum to places where people are really in harm’s way when the rains come.”

“The development impact of the budget has been clearly diluted by this irrational bias for flood control. If budgeting is the smart application of scarce resources to where they can make the greatest good for the greatest number of people, then why are we allowing a program that creates the least impact corner much of the funds?” Senate President Escudero pointed out.

One of these programs, he said, is dredging of rivers, which can be done through partnership with the private sector and local government units (LGUs).

“I encourage DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon to explore possible partnerships with various LGUs and private sector with respect to cleaning our rivers, particularly in Metro Manila, while all public infrastructure projects are under review,” the leader of the Senate said.