Marcos: P300B worth of flood control projects to continue, but with proper safeguards

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Saturday said the P300 billion allotted this year for flood control projects would be carried over to 2026, provided that the necessary safeguards are in place. 

“So, tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang magiging flood control project hanggang sa susunod na taon at mayroon naman tayo na ia-approve na flood control project. Basta’t nakita natin ay maayos ang proposal, maayos ang program of work, maayos ang completion, may acceptance ng local government. That’s the new factor that we put in,” Marcos said during his visit to Gonzaga, Cagayan, where he led the distribution of assistance to residents and farmers affected by Super Typhoon Nando.

(Flood control projects will continue until next year and we have a flood control project to be approved. As long as we see that the proposal, the program of work and the completion are proper and there is acceptance by the local government. That’s the new factor that we put in.)

Marcos also said the administration would ensure public funds are spent wisely for the welfare of Filipinos, adding that past abuses in the implementation of multi-billion-peso flood control and infrastructure projects will not be repeated.

“Titiyakin po natin na hindi na po mauulit ‘yung ating nakita. Titiyakin po natin na bawat sentimo na pera ninyo – hindi namin pera ito, pera ninyo na ibinahagi ninyo sa mga opisyal ng pamahalaan,” he said.

(We will make sure that what we saw will never happen again. We will make sure that every cent of your money – it is not our money, it is your money that you shared with government officials.)

Marcos said the government only serves as a “custodian” of taxpayers’ money.

“Kami po ay kung tawagin ay ‘custodian’ lang, tiga-bantay lang kami sa pera ninyo. Hindi amin ‘yan. Sa inyo pa rin ‘yan,” he said.

(We are what are called "custodians," we are just safeguarding your money. It's not ours. It's still yours.)

Marcos had 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.

The president previously directed all government departments and agencies to reinstate the “acceptance” process of local government units before the national government projects can be deemed as completed.

Marcos had said that this would ensure that the projects are fully finished before turnover. —VBL, GMA Integrated News