Congress assures: No repeat of flood control scandal with bicam-approved 2026 budget

The Bicameral Conference Committee’s approved, reconciled version of the P6.793 trillion national budget for 2026 has sufficient safeguards in place to ensure that the flood control mess won’t happen again, Senate finance panel chairperson Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said on Thursday.

“Ang importante rito na lahat ng safeguards nandito sa budget na ito. Projects are now clearly identified to strengthen transparency and accountability. Ang importante rito, lahat ‘yun pupunta sa tao,” Gatchalian said after the bicameral talks.

(The important thing is all safeguards are provided here in this budget. Projects are now clearly identified to strengthen transparency and accountability. The important thing is, public funds will benefit the people.)

“So hindi na mauulit ang flood control, hindi na maulit ‘yung mga ghost projects, hindi na maulit ‘yung hindi mahanap na project or substandard,” he added.

(So the flood control controversy won’t happen again, the ghost projects or the substandard projects won’t happen again.)

Gatchalian made the remarks after the bicameral discussions on the spending plan were concluded with the decision to reduce the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to P529.6 billion. 

Originally at P880 billion, the proposed DPWH allocation for 2026 was at P624 billion in the House’s version and P570 billion in the Senate version.

House appropriations panel chairperson and Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Mikaela Suansing backed Gatchalian, stressing that the proposed budget approved by the Bicam is based on merit.

“We don’t put in items in the budgets of agencies without the approval of the head of agency and the agency itself,” she said.

“We’ve been working together very hard over the past few days to get to a budget that both Houses will be proud of. So again, we want to make sure that we have a budget that the Filipino people can trust,” Suansing added.

Unprogrammed funds

The Bicameral Conference Committee also approved on Thursday P243 billion in unprogrammed funds for the 2026 budget, aligning more with the House proposal and higher than the Senate’s version.

The Senate-approved General Appropriations Bill trims unprogrammed funds to P174.55 billion, which is P68.66 billion less than the House allocation of P243.22 billion.

Gatchalian explained that the Strengthening Assistance for Government Infrastructure Program (SAGIP) was removed from the unprogrammed funds after it was found to have been used to cover anomalous flood control project expenses.

“Dahil sa controversy, tinanggal 'yung SAGIP (because of the controversy, the SAGIP was removed from the unprogrammed funds),” Gatchalian said.

However, targeted accounts such as the revised Armed Forces of the Philippines modernization program and risk management program remained in the unprogrammed funds.

“Yung amount nito ay malaking timing issue. Marami dito sa mga accounts ay kailangan ng pondo around 2nd to 3rd quarter. Ibig sabihin, hindi immediately kailangan 'yung pondo kaya puwedeng gamitin 'yung unprogrammed appropriation,” he added.  

(We are considering the amount and timing issues, as many of these accounts will need funds around the 2nd to 3rd quarter. This means the funds are not immediately required, so unprogrammed appropriations can be used.)

“Ako sisiguraduhin ko at iga-guarantee ko ang ating mga constituents na hindi na ito magagamit sa flood control. Imposible dahil lahat ng ito may targeted program at bawat program ay may guidance and rules. So hindi puwede ito i-divert sa flood control o sa iba pang mga programa. Kung baga may pupuntahan at paggagamitan siya,” Gatchalian said.

(I will ensure and guarantee to our constituents that this will no longer be abused for flood control because it will be in the targeted program. There are guidelines and rules in place to prevent the funds from being diverted to flood control. There are specific accounts where the funds will be allocated and used.)

The bicameral talks on the 2026 national budget concluded early Thursday morning after four days of deliberations. Both chambers of Congress are eyeing to ratify it by December 29.

Sought for comment if there is a possibility that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will veto some items or provisions in the spending plan, Gatchalian said there is no reason for the President to reject the Congress-approved proposed budget.

“I am confident that the President won’t veto these provisions. Very confident,” Gatchalian said.

In a separate statement, House Deputy Minority Leader and Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno said the bicam panel should maintain transparency in the process. 

“Since this stage of the process is happening away from public view, we urge both panels to fully disclose what adjustments are being made, and who proposed and approved them. We reiterate our call for greater transparency and meaningful public participation – especially in light of the increases in certain budget items, which raise serious concerns about the risk of corruption, pork, and patronage,” Diokno said. — JMA/KG, GMA Integrated News