Amid the deepening scandal over bogus and defective flood control projects, questionable allocations continue to plague the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) budget for next year.
Senator Win Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, revealed that upon reviewing more than 4,000 flood control projects, he and his staff discovered multiple irregularities—including projects listed in non-existent locations and others broken down into multiple phases but carrying identical funding.
“So we had to engage engineers to help us with the technical side. Pero while reviewing it, nakita namin, mayroong mga P10 million, same barangay, same municipality, package 1 (through 4)… tapos may mga the same amount … Marami kaming na-notice na ganoong while reviewing it,” Gatchalian said.
The DPWH submitted the proposed budget to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), which has already included ₱270 billion for flood control projects in the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP).
Senator Ping Lacson, a longtime critic of flood control anomalies, also issued a stark warning against possible insertions of ghost projects in the 2026 NEP.
Meanwhile, Senator Bam Aquino pushed for the complete removal of the flood control allocation, urging that the funds instead be channeled into education and healthcare.
“If not the entire allocation, any amount that may be reduced should fund the construction of classrooms and healthcare facilities, as well as priority programs,” he said.
The Senate Budget Coordination Committee opened deliberations on the 2026 national budget last Monday, September 1, with flood control funding emerging as one of the most contentious items under scrutiny.