Marcos orders transfer of P255.5-B flood control budget to priority programs

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has ordered the transfer of P255.5 billion originally earmarked for flood control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to the priority programs of other government agencies.

Marcos announced the move during a visit Friday to San Fernando City in La Union, assuring that the Filipino taxpayers' money would be spent solely for their interest.

"Kaya't itinigil ko lahat 'yan para matiyak natin na tama naman ang paggamit ng pera ninyo dahil pera ninyo ito," Marcos said.

(That's why I stopped it all to ensure that your money is allocated properly, because it is yours.)

"Hindi pera ng gobyerno ito, pera ng taong-bayan ito. Kaya't tinitiyak natin na tama ang gawa," Marcos added.

(This is not government money, this is the people's money. So we're making sure that it's done right.)
 
The President had ordered a sweeping review of the DPWH proposed 2026 budget amid a corruption scandal involving alleged kickbacks by lawmakers, Public Works officials, and contractors off flood control projects.

The DPWH later resubmitted a leaner 2026 proposed budget of P625 billion—removing some P255 billion from the original cost of over P881 billion.

With the completion of the review, Marcos said the reallocated DPWH funds from flood control projects would go to programs that provide assistance and benefits to people.
 

According to a statement by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the reallocated budget reallocation includes the following:

• P36 billion to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Assistance for Individuals in Crisis (AICS), Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) Program, and Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP); 
• P26.55 billion to the Department of Education (DepEd) for construction and rehabilitation of classrooms, school-based feeding programs, education of indigenous peoples, Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) program, salary of non-DepEd ARAL tutors, flexible learning options, Madrasah Education, and Special Needs Education Program;
• P39.37 billion to the Department of Agriculture (DA) for post-harvest facilities, assistance to farmers and fisherfolk, crop insurance, deep water porters, fishport construction, among others;
• P29.28 billion to the Department of Health (DOH) for Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients program, legacy hospitals and children with cancer at the Philippine Children's Medical Center;
• P60 billion to Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) for the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services (BUCAS) Centers, Guaranteed and Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment;
• P9.3 billion to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED);
• P1 billion to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA);
• P450 million to the Philippine Science High School System;
• P1 billion to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for the rehabilitation of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT);
• P18 billion to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program and the Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program; and
• P600 million to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) for the Beneficiaries' Development and Sustainability Program and Land Tenure Security Program.

Marcos had previously disclosed a "menu" of sectors that legislators could choose from with the reallocation of DPWH's flood control funds. — VDV, GMA Integrated News