Only flood control projects in flood-prone areas should be funded, Suansing says

Flood control projects which are not located in red zone areas or those with high risk of fatalities due to flood should be removed from the proposed 2026 national budget, House appropriations panel chairperson and Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Suansing said Friday.

Suansing made the call during the briefing on Department of Public Works and Highways' proposed P880 billion budget.

“To rationalize the funding of flood control projects for 2026, I am strongly advocating for the use of Project NOAH or the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Standards under the UP Resilience Institute as the main determinant for identifying which flood control projects should be allowed for funding in the 2026 budget. Only those indicated as red zones as per the flood hazard map of Project NOAH should be allowed,” Suansing said in her opening speech before the House appropriations panel. 

“What are red zones? These are areas posing high risk of fatality. Either high flood waters or flood water levels or high velocity of water flows. Ibig sabihin po, kung ano lamang po ang mga proyekto na kasama sa red zones at kung ano lamang po ang kasama sa proposal ng DPWH na nakabase po sa feasibility studies at galing po endorsed po ng Regional Development Council ang dapat pondohan,” she added.

The lawmaker said such removal of unmeritorious flood control projects is what the public needs and deserves.

“Lahat po ng labas dito, tatanggalin po natin sa flood control para sa taong 2026. The public, especially most vulnerable to flooding, deserve institutions that protect, empower, and respect them,” Suansing said.

“The gravity of the allegations and ongoing investigations demands nothing less than a clear plan: one that cuts inefficiency, banishes corruption, and rebuilds confidence in public infrastructure,” she added.

House leaders led by Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno earlier flagged erroneous budget items under the proposed 2026 budget such as completed projects still being funded, as well as those multi-year projects being unfunded even if these projects are implemented in phases. —AOL, GMA Integrated News