₱107.4B earmarked for flood control projects in proposed 2027 budget

The government has earmarked ₱107.4 billion for flood control projects under the proposed 2027 national budget, including funds for the maintenance, repair, rehabilitation and improvement of existing infrastructure, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Tuesday.

DBM Acting Secretary Kim Robert de Leon said the government decided to continue funding flood control projects partly because it could not simply abandon those that had already been started.

“Hindi naman din po natin pwedeng pabayaan 'yung mga naumpisahan na, na mga flood control projects, at mas hindi po magiging maayos 'yung epekto kung mananatiling nakatiwangwang 'yung mga naumpisahan ng mga flood control projects,” De Leon said during a press briefing following the turnover of the proposed 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP) to the House of Representatives.

(We cannot simply abandon flood control projects that have already been started, and the outcome would be even worse if these projects were left unfinished.)

De Leon also noted that flood control projects are not limited to one-time expenditures, as some facilities require continuing operations and maintenance.

The ₱107.4-billion allocation includes ₱19.6 billion in capital outlay for ongoing foreign-assisted flood control projects.

On top of this, ₱3.41 billion is proposed under the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s flood control program for the operation and maintenance of existing flood control structures, pumping stations and related facilities.

Tighter vetting

De Leon said flood control projects underwent stricter scrutiny during the preparation of the 2027 NEP following previous allegations of anomalies involving government flood control projects.

He said proposed projects were required to have properly identified and tagged locations and be supported by actual programs of work even before the budget was submitted to Congress.

“Masiguro natin na hindi ito magiging mga ghost flood control projects kapag ito ay naaprubahan ng Kongreso,” De Leon said.

(We can ensure that these will not become ghost flood control projects once approved by Congress.)

He said the projects would also be monitored from the release of funds through their actual implementation.

The DBM’s COMPASS system will make information on fund releases available to the public, while the Department of Public Works and Highways' transparency portal will be used to track project implementation.

De Leon also said the DBM’s Project TIMe, or Digital Information for Monitoring and Evaluation, will use technology and satellite data to verify whether reported infrastructure accomplishments actually exist on the ground.

He said the monitoring system would not rely solely on documentary reports submitted by implementing agencies.

House to further vet projects

House Appropriations Committee Chairperson Mika Suansing said lawmakers would conduct another round of scrutiny of flood control projects during congressional deliberations.

She said the House would examine whether projects included in the NEP are necessary and ready for implementation before they are included in the final General Appropriations Bill.

Suansing also cited the ₱1-billion allocation for Project NOAH under the 2026 national budget, saying its flood-risk mapping capabilities could help lawmakers vet proposed flood control projects.

She said Project NOAH's maps classify areas according to flood risk, allowing lawmakers to assess whether proposed projects are located in areas that actually need them.

Suansing added that the House had introduced provisions in the 2026 General Appropriations Act aimed at improving transparency and monitoring of infrastructure projects.

These include requirements under the general provisions on infrastructure implementation and transparency, as well as a provision directing concerned agencies to develop an integrated, environmentally validated and nature-based flood and water resources management plan.

The proposed 2027 NEP will undergo congressional deliberations before the final national budget is approved. — MCG, GMA News