Proposed DPWH 2026 budget has P2.4-B MOOE for flood control-related projects

The proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026, as approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate, has earmarked P2.49 billion for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) of flood control and drainage systems, structures, and other related facilities.

Each of the 18 regions in the country, including the National Capital Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), got P100 million in MOOE for ongoing flood control-related projects this year.

The nationwide flood control-related projects, on the other hand, were allocated P690 million worth of  MOOE funding, which covers the following:

• Flood Control and Sabo Engineering Center worth P10 million
• CAMANAVA / Valenzuela-Obando-Meycauayan flood control structures worth P50 million
• Manggahan flood control structures worth P50 million
• Agno flood control structures worth P50 million
• Iloilo flood control structures worth P50 million
• Lower Agusan flood control structures worth P50 million
• Laoag River Basin flood control structures worth P50 million
• Post-Ondoy and Pepeng Short Term Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project (POPSTIRP) structures worth P30 million
• Pinatubo Hazard Urgent Mitigation Project (PHUMP) Structures worth P30 million
• Esteros Improvement/ Maintenance in NCR worth P50 million
• Third River flood control structures worth P30 million
• Manila Bay Rehabilitation based on Supreme Court Mandamus order worth P30 million
• Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project structures worth P50 million
• Pampanga Delta Development Project structures worth P30,000,000 million
• Flood Risk Management Project Structures for Cagayan River, Tagoloan River, and  Imus River worth P30 million; and
• Desilting, Dredging, and Cleaning of Waterways worth P100 million

The proposed P529-billion 2026 budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) did not include funding for new flood control projects amid an ongoing investigation into alleged anomalous government flood control projects that turned out to be a supposed kickback scheme among government officials.

The maintenance budget for flood control-related projects, however, got the lion's share of the P3.135 billion worth of budget for Maintenance, Repair and Rehabilitation of Infrastructure Facilities. 

Aside from flood control-related projects, other items under the P3.135 billion worth of budget for Maintenance, Repair and Rehabilitation of Infrastructure Facilities include: 

• P645 million for public buildings
• P12.2 million for regional support (planning and design, construction, maintenance and material quality control); and 
• P4.208 million for testing materials needed in road, bridge and building construction and other public works projects

In a statement, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said that its proposed 2026 budget contained no funding for new locally-funded flood control projects, "in line with the President’s directive to streamline the agency’s expenditures."

"Instead, the proposed P2.49 billion allocation is dedicated to the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) of existing flood-control related projects and programs, including the government's Oplan Kontra Baha program," the DPWH said.

"These funds will support essential declogging, desilting, dredging, repair, and clearing operations to ensure the functionality of waterways and drainage systems nationwide as well as other maintenance requirements of existing flood control-related projects," it added.

"The Department is committed to maximizing these resources to mitigate flooding risks despite the fiscal constraints."

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. said back in September that there would be no budget for flood control projects in 2026. 

Initially, it was proposed that the budget allocation for flood control projects under the 2026 National Expenditure Program was P274.926 billion. 

It was in November 2025 when the Ombudsman first filed malversation and graft charges filed against former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and 16 others with the Sandiganabayan over the P289 million substandard road dike project in Oriental Mindoro.

In December 2025, malversation and graft charges were also filed by government prosecutors against contractor Sarah Discaya, among others, with the Digos City, Davao del Sur Regional Trial Court over the P96.5 million ghost flood control project in Davao Occidental. 

The ratified Bicam panel report of the House and the Senate reduced the DPWH budget from P880 billion to P529 billion. 

Maintenance of national roads

The DPWH, meanwhile, got P8.5 billion worth of funding for routine maintenance of national roads.

Region 8, or Eastern Visayas, got the biggest allocation for maintenance of national roads under its jurisdiction, with P704.9 million out of the P8.5 billion.

Eastern Visayas covers the provinces of Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, and Southern Leyte.

Ranking second is Region 11 or Davao Region with P604 million, followed by the Negros Island Region with around P579 million.

The rest of the regions got the following allocations:

• Region 4A or Calabarzon with P562 million
• Region 5 or Bicol Region with P532.4 million
• Region 6 or Western Visayas with P526 million
• Region 7 or Central Visayas with P523 million
• Region 1 or Ilocos Region with P524.5 million
• Region 3 or Central Luzon with around P502.9 million
• Region 10 or Northern Mindanao with around P461 million
• Region 13 or Caraga Region with around P440.3 million
• Region 12 or Soccsksargen Region with P430.4 million
• Cordillera Administrative Region with P423 million
• Region 2 or Cagayan Region with P376 million
• National Capital Region with P375 million
• Region 9 or Zamboanga Peninsula with P372.8 million
• Region 4B or MIMAROPA Region with P366 million and
• BARMM with P172.3 million

These are on top of the P25 million budget for the routine maintenance of newly converted national roads.  

The proposed 2026 budget is currently awaiting Marcos' signature for it to become law. 

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto earlier this week said that the President and his team are thoroughly reviewing the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget.

"The Executive Branch received on December 29, 2025 the ratified 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and is now conducting a thorough review to ensure its integrity and effective execution," said Executive Secretary Ralph Recto earlier this week.

Recto told GMA News Online that Marcos will sign the bill outlining the P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026 on the first week of January. —VAL, GMA Integrated News