From infra to ayuda: Where did 2026 flood control budget go?

The House of Representatives approved the proposed P6.793 trillion national budget for 2026 on its third and final reading, with more funds allocated to government assistance programs, or ayuda, and less to infrastructure projects following the anomalous flood control mess.

Under the House’s approved General Appropriations Bill, the entire P255 billion initial proposed budget for the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) locally funded flood control projects was realigned, of which 40%, or P102 billion, was redirected to the following:

- P32.6 billion: Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS)
- P14.82 billion: Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD)
- P56 billion: Additional funding to the Philippine Science High School System, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and State Universities and Colleges

Based on GMA Integrated News Research data, at least three ayuda programs saw an increase of more than 80% from the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) to the General Appropriations Bill (GAB).

Among the three ayuda programs, DSWD’s Protective Program for Individuals and Families in Especially Difficult Circumstances got the largest increase, with over P32 billion.

From P27 billion in the NEP, DSWD’s Protective Program got P59 billion in the GAB, or a 118.6% increase.  AICS is one of the assistance programs under the Protective Program.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health’s (DOH) Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially-Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) obtained P49.2 billion in the GAB.

This translates to a 103%, or almost P25 billion, increase from the P24.2 billion proposed budget in the NEP.

With an 82.3% increase, the allocated funds for TUPAD and the Government Internship Program increased from P12.1 billion to P22.1 billion.

In September, President Ferdinand Marcos said there would be no budget allocated for flood control projects in 2026 since there are still funds in 2025 that have yet to be utilized.

Later that month, the President announced that almost P36 billion in flood control projects under the proposed 2026 national budget will be redirected to DSWD’s social programs.

Tool for political patronage?

In a Viber message to GMA News Online, economist Emmanuel Leyco said realigning the budget for flood control projects to the ayuda programs, such as AICS and TUPAD, is another “tool for political patronage.”

“The attempt to assuage the people's growing discontent by transferring some 40% of flood control projects to TUPAD and AICS is just another maneuver to re-label the pork barrel used as a tool for political patronage,” said Leyco, a fellow at the Center for People Empowerment in Governance.

“Based on the congressional hearings, it would seem that the corruption at DPWH is so endemic that a mere reduction of the flood control project funds will not solve the problem," he added.

Leyco also pointed out that compared to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, the verification and validation of AICS and TUPAD are “weak and could be easily used as instruments of political patronage.”

Instead, the funds for the flood control projects should be placed on health and education programs with "strict" implementation.

“I would prefer health and education assistance with strict validation and documentation. We need more classrooms and assistance for the urgent care requirements of our people,” Leyco said.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon earlier told senators that losses from anomalous flood control projects could reach up to trillions of pesos.

Over 100,000 protesters joined the September 21 rallies against corruption at Luneta Park and the EDSA People Power Monument, where they called for those behind the massive graft to be held accountable and jailed.

No intervention from Congress

House appropriations panel chairperson and Nueva Ecija Representative Mikaela Suansing, however, maintained that all budget items are clearly stated for a particular purpose, and that members of Congress are not involved in the implementation of aid programs.

“The House never engages in post-enactment intervention. Ibig sabihin po, kapag na-aprubahan na po ang budget, ang budget po para sa mga programa na ito ay napupunta sa mga kanya-kanyang mga ahensya. Iyong AICS, sa DSWD, sa kaso ng MAIFP, sa DOH, iyong TUPAD, sa DOLE. Nasa discretion po ng ahensya kung paano po i-didisburse [ang pondo sa mga ito],” Suansing said.

(This means when the budget is approved, the budget for these programs goes to the concerned agencies. AICS is with DSWD, MAIFP is with DOH, TUPAD with DOLE. The implementation of these programs depends on the discretion of these agencies.)

“They have their own internal guidelines, they have their own internal procedures as to how to disburse these funds. At wala pong intervention ang Kongreso patungkol po sa implementasyon ng mga programa nito,” she added.

Suansing said aid programs should be funded, including under the unprogrammed appropriations, to ensure that the government will be able to lend a hand to those in need even in unforeseen circumstances

“Siguro po gusto kong bigyang diin ito dahil ngayon pong 2025, nagamit po natin yung AICS na nakapaloob sa unprogrammed appropriations. Nung tumama po yung lindol at mga bagyo sa Masbate, Cebu, at Davao, kinailangan po nating bumatak ng 5 billion pesos mula sa unprogrammed appropriations para sa AICS para po makapagbigay ng karagdagang tugon dun po sa mga nasalanta ng kalamidad. And maybe that's a really good illustration of how unprogrammed appropriations can help the government operationalize,” Suansing added.

“Kung wala pong unprogrammed appropriations na nakaabang para sa AICS, wala pong agarang tulong na mailalabas ang DSWD para sa mga nasalanta ng bagyo at ng kalamidad at ng lindol dahil ubos na po yung AICS na nakaprogram sa ilalim ng DSWD. So that's a really good illustration of how unprogrammed appropriations can help the government and the Filipino people,” Suansing added.

Wiping out the entire unprogrammed funds, Suansing said, will be more disastrous. 

“Ang takot ko po kung i-wipe out natin lahat ng laman ng unprogrammed appropriations, halimbawa ito po mga nakapaloob sa Strengthening Assistance for Social Programs. If there comes a time, sana naman po sa awa ng Diyos hindi mangyari, pero kung magkaroon po ng malaking kalamidad, kung magkaroon po ng national health emergency na kailangan pong respondahan, kung hindi po natin bibigyan ng legal basis for funding these items, hindi po tayo makakabatak (makakakuha ng pondo),” Suansing said.

What are AICS, other ayuda programs?

AICS is one of DSWD’s social welfare services programs that aims to help Filipinos who are in crisis, such as illness, death, loss of a job, or a source of income, to meet their needs.

Under the program, DSWD offers medical, funeral, transportation, education, material, food, and cash relief assistance.

Filipinos who are interested in availing the program may go to DSWD’s website and complete the requirements, such as providing a valid ID and other documents appropriate to the type of assistance being requested.

Meanwhile, DOLE’s TUPAD program is a community-based safety net initiative that provides temporary employment to workers in the informal sector.

It aims to aid the underemployed, self-employed individuals, and the displaced marginalized workers, or those who have lost their jobs or experienced reduced income due to the pandemic.

Under the program, individuals are provided with financial support through a temporary job from 10 to 90 days, depending on the nature of the work.

However, those who have already benefited from other government assistance programs, such as AICS, and those below 18 years old are not eligible.

The program offers benefits, including wages based on regional minimum wage standards, employment for 10-30 days, personal accident insurance, and necessary materials for community work.

Those interested may bring their valid ID and coordinate with their respective DOLE Public Employment Office to be included in the list of beneficiaries.

Also providing financial assistance, the DOH’s MAIFIP program aims to aid indigent patients and financially incapacitated individuals in acquiring the treatment they need.

It covers medical services such as life-saving medicines, treatments prescribed by licensed physicians, consultation fees, laboratory tests, and hospitalization.

Those interested in availing the MAIFIP program may go to the medical social worker of a hospital to check their eligibility and complete the requirements, such as medical records.

Other increases

Aside from the ayuda program, Congress and other government agencies obtained increases in the 2026 GAB.

In Congress, the budget of the House of Representatives went up from P17.7 billion to P28.2 billion, while the Commission on Appointments’ budget increased from P1.12 billion to P1.42 billion.

Data from GMA Integrated News Research also showed that at least five government agencies got 10% or more budget increases.

These agencies are DOLE (30.6%), the Department of Agriculture (17.6%), DSWD (17%), the Department of Energy (16.3%), and DOH (11.3%).

According to GMA Integrated News Research, DOH’s budget increase came from the deducted budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

The House of Representatives has reduced the OVP’s 2026 budget from its original proposal of P889.2 million to P733.2 million.

This came after House Deputy Minority Leader and ML party-list lawmaker Leila de Lima made the motion, citing Vice President Sara Duterte's refusal to defend the proposed appropriation before the House plenary.

Comelec also has an additional P7.46 billion for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election, which was moved to November 2026.

Budget cuts

As some government agencies gained more funds, some also faced budget cuts.

Aside from the OVP, the proposed P881.3 billion budget of DPWH was reduced by 29% in the 2026 GAB.

This came after the department scrapped all locally funded flood control projects and addressed the issues raised in the initial version of the budget, such as the funding of completed and duplicate projects.

From P197.3 billion in the NEP, the 2026 budget of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) was cut to P175.5 B in the GAB.

Under DOTr, the budget for the Office of the Secretary was trimmed, but the Maritime Industry Authority and the Philippine Coast Guard gained more funds.

Meanwhile, more funds were allocated for the confidential and intelligence expenses (CIE).

From P10.77 billion in the NEP, CIE obtained P10.92 billion in the GAB.

However, the 2026 GAB for CIE is 9.9% lower than the allocated funds in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), which amounts to P12.12 billion.

With P4.56 billion allocated funds, the Office of the President still holds the largest budget among offices with CIE in 2026.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Funds (NDRRMF), meanwhile, was granted fewer funds under the 2026 GAB. From P31 billion, NDRRM was allocated P29.25 billion in the 2026 GAB.

This pattern has been observed since 2023, when the proposed budget for NDRRMF was P31 billion. However, P20.5 billion was approved in the 2023 and 2024 GAA, and P21 billion was approved in the 2025 GAA.

Despite the decreases in the NDRRMF, more funds were allocated to the Quick Response Fund (QRF).

From P8.225 billion in the NEP, the budget for QRF increased to P9.975 billion in the GAB.

With the changes made in the 2026 national budget, Leyco urged the government to engage in concrete actions to ensure public funds are protected amid the controversies surrounding the anomalous flood control projects.

“The BBM government needs to assure the people that accountability and recovery of stolen funds are successfully undertaken at the soonest time possible.  We need to see concrete results and assurance that custody of the public funds will be sufficiently protected,” Leyco said. —With Llanesca Panti/LDF, GMA Integrated News