Flood zones to be prioritized for funding in 2026 budget —House appropriations head

Flood-prone areas will be prioritized for funding of flood control projects in the 2026 national budget, House committee on appropriations chairperson Representative Mikaela Suansing said.

“As with every budget of every [government] agency, the House can lower, retain or increase the funding for a particular budget line item. We will employ the criteria wherein we will prioritize flood control projects in areas that need them most,” Suansing told reporters.

“Sa amin po rito [sa House], ang ipaglalaban po namin ay siguraduhin na mapupunta iyong flood control projects kung saan sila pinakakailangan talaga,” she added.

(What the House will fight for is to ensure that flood control projects will be funded in areas where they are needed.)

Suansing was asked about the future of flood control projects under the 2026 budget given the recent pronouncement of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. that many projects in 2025 were in areas that were not considered flood zones.

“It would be better if we engage with regional offices because there should be a regional flood mitigation plan which serves as a guidepost. You cannot come up with so many flood control facilities in one area without knowing where these floodwaters would end up,” she said.

“We will make sure that there will be coordination with regional offices, that they will adhere to a regional flood mitigation plan,” she added.—LDF, GMA Integrated News