DPWH to finish ongoing flood control projects before shift to science-based planning

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Wednesday said it cannot yet adopt a science-based approach to flood control planning as suggested by lawmakers, citing the need to first complete ongoing projects amid questions over irregularities.

At the House appropriations committee hearing on DPWH’s proposed 2026 budget, Secretary Vince Dizon recalled that legislators earlier proposed aligning flood control projects with hazard data from Project NOAH of the University of the Philippines.

“Nabanggit ng ating Chairperson Mika Suansing noong ating nakaraang hearing na ang flood control kung pwede pumagamitin natin ang science-based approach, specifically to use the data and inputs from Project NOAH which is probably the most reputable institution based out of the University of the Philippines," Dizon said.

(In our previous hearing, [Appropriations] Chairperson Mikaela Suansing suggested that for flood control, we use a science-based approach, specifically drawing from Project NOAH, which is probably the most reputable institution from the University of the Philippines.)

“Marami mga members ng House of Representatives ay nag-propose ng flood control projects base sa Project NOAH lalo na sa mga red zones," he added. 

(Many members of the House of Representatives have proposed flood control projects based on Project NOAH, especially in red zones.)

But Dizon said the agency must first focus on ensuring proper implementation of ongoing projects, many of which have been flagged for questionable practices.

“Number one, meron na po tayong mga ongoing flood control at dapat yun po muna ang ating pagtuunan ng pansin especially given the questionable issues that have been raised against these flood control projects all over the country.”

(First, we already have ongoing flood control projects, and those should be our priority—especially given the questionable issues raised against these projects all over the country.)

He said President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has directed the DPWH to clean up irregularities in infrastructure programs and rebuild public trust.

“We are ensuring the proper implementation of all these ongoing projects. But I think more importantly the President is sending a very clear message to the people that we need to tell the people that we will clean this up and we will clean this up now. And I think that is where the President is coming.”

(We are ensuring the proper implementation of all these ongoing projects. More importantly, the President is sending a very clear message to the people that we will clean this up—and we will clean this up now. That is where the President is coming from.)

“Gusto niyang magsimula ng mag-build ng trust, hindi lamang sa DPWH kundi sa buong gobyerno para po makita ng ating mga kababayan na tayo po lahat ay seryoso dito sa kailangan nating pagigilis dito sa mga nakita, nasiwagat ng mga naging problema sa mga flood control projects.”

(He wants to start building trust, not only in the DPWH but in the whole government, so that our citizens will see that we are all serious about addressing the issues uncovered in flood control projects.)

This push for accountability also led to the removal of P252.5 billion from the DPWH's proposed 2026 budget.

"The resubmitted budget of DPWH is close to 30%, to be exact, 28.9% lower than the originally submitted 881 billion peso budget. It is now 625.78 billion pesos. That is 255.53 billion lower than the originally proposed budget," he said. — BM, GMA Integrated News