Arthur Fuentes

The Multipurpose hall of the Antipolo National Highschool destroyed by Super Typhoon Rolly in Barangay Antipolo, Virac Catanduanes on November 13, 2020. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Multi-purpose hall

ABS-CBN News

<div> </div>MANILA — After examining alleged anomalies in flood control projects, the public should also look at the budgets for multipurpose halls and waiting sheds, among other things, one of the country&#x27;s most influential business groups said on Monday.The Makati Business Club (MBC) said that it supports President Ferdinand Marcos Jr&#x27;s call to address corruption by auditing infrastructure and ordering lifestyle checks on all government officials.But the MBC said that on top of examining flood control projects, the Convergence and Special Support Programs (CSSP) should also be scrutinized.The MBC said the CSSP is a catch-all program that finances multipurpose buildings, local roads, streetlights, basketball courts, waiting sheds, and other highly discretionary projects.&quot;Its broad and undefined scope makes it highly vulnerable to political discretion and pork-barrel type insertions. CSSP projects are subject to weak transparency and audit mechanisms posing significant risks for waste and misuse of taxpayer money,&quot; the MBC said in a statement.The business group also noted that the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways has increased more than twenty times from 2004 to 2026. The MBC said this was disproportionate compared to most other agencies, even with adjustments to inflation considered.Flood control, meanwhile, accounted for about one-third of all infrastructure outlays, with projects fetching over P1.2 trillion from 2023 to 2026, with P250 billion programmed in 2026, excluding local and convergence allocations, the MBC said.&quot;Despite years of record-high allocations, there has yet to be an explanation why there is a persistence of devastating floods every time the rains come,&quot; the group said.The group said it supports a Senate resolution to improve transparency and accountability mechanisms in the Bicameral Committee deliberations, where insertions for unprogrammed funds were executed in the 2025 General Appropriations Act.The MBC said it has been accredited as one of the bona fide civil society organizations that will serve as observers and active participants in the upcoming budget deliberations.&quot;We welcome this recognition as an opportunity to monitor, question, and ensure that the 2026 General Appropriations Act will be crafted to serve its purpose which are in the best interest and needs of the Filipino people,&quot; it said.&quot;While each branch of government has its own safeguards, history has shown that external oversight can provide stronger protection for public interest,&quot; the MBC added.

The MBC says multipurpose buildings, local roads, streetlights, basketball courts, waiting sheds, and other highly discretionary projects also need scrutiny.

The MBC says multipurpose buildings, local roads, streetlights, basketball courts, waiting sheds, and other highly discretionary projects also need scrutiny.

After flood control projects, look at budgets for multipurpose buildings, waiting sheds too: Biz group

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After flood control projects, look at budgets for multipurpose buildings, waiting sheds too: Biz group

Arthur Fuentes,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 08, 2025 07:23 PM PHT

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flood control

waiting shed

multipurpose hall

MBC

makati Business Club

2026 Budget

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