Rowegie Abanto

Floodwaters continue to inundate streets in Barangay Santo Domingo, Cainta, Rizal, on July 23, 2025. The flooding has persisted for days since the enhanced southwest monsoon, triggered by Tropical Storm Crising, affected parts of the country. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Senate to probe alleged flood control budget misuse

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175394739308420250723-habagat-cainta-flooding-MD170114.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false" style="text-align:left">Floodwaters continue to inundate streets in Barangay Santo Domingo, Cainta, Rizal, on July 23, 2025. The flooding has persisted for days since the enhanced southwest monsoon, triggered by Tropical Storm Crising, affected parts of the country. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Senate will launch an inquiry into the alleged misuse of flood control budget, Sen. Erwin Tulfo announced Thursday, merely days after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his SONA shamed public officials supposedly pocketing the funds.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/28/-mahiya-naman-kayo-marcos-order-probe-on-corruption-in-flood-control-projects-1725">&#x27;Mahiya naman kayo&#x27;: Marcos orders probe on possible corruption in flood control projects</a></div><p>&quot;We&#x27;ve talked about it already. Papasilip yan. As a matter of fact, may bill na finile. Sige kasi ang problema dyan, marami daw mga politiko, ang kanilang trabaho is, ang kanilang sideline ay mangontrata, mga kontraktor,&quot; Tulfo told ANC.</p><p>He noted that Senate President Francis &quot;Chiz&quot; Escudero has a proposed bill barring government officials, lawmakers, and their families up to the 4th degree of consanguinity and affinity from securing government procurement contracts. </p><p>Marcos in his recent SONA ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways to submit a list of flood control projects that were &quot;started or completed in the last three years.&quot;</p><p>He said the list would be disclosed to the public for their feedback.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/29/escudero-slams-efforts-to-link-him-to-flood-budget-misuse-as-demolition-job-1619">Escudero slams efforts to link him to flood budget misuse as &#x27;demolition job&#x27;</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>LACSON REVIEWS FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Sen. Panfilo Lacson meanwhile noted that the government has spent nearly P2 trillion on flood control in the last 15 years.</p><p>&quot;Noong matapos ako maproklama, nagsimula ako mag-review, kasama ang prospective staff. Hindi lang 2025 budget ang pinaka-contentious. Balikan natin ang 2024, 2023, ang flood control balikan natin sa 2011, first budget year ni PNoy. At the time bumabaha tayo. Pataas nang pataas ang tubig ng baha, pataas nang pataas ang budget,&quot; Lacson told DZMM.</p><p>&quot;Isn’t it absurd na directly proportional ang rise ng floodwaters sa increase ng budget sa flood control? Parang it doesn’t make sense. Parang complete paradox. Nagulat kami P1.907 trillion for the last 15 years, almost P2 trillion. Sinisilip na namin may nakita na kami,&quot; he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/29/govt-says-objective-review-of-flood-control-projects-not-a-witch-hunt-1803">Gov&#x27;t says objective review of flood control projects not a &#x27;witch-hunt&#x27;</a></div><p>In his blog, Lacson also cited information — shared with him by Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong — which said the cut of lawmakers in infrastructure projects may reach 35 percent. For flood control projects, it could reach at least 50 percent, he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/29/-why-allow-10-000-flood-control-projects-when-you-only-need-1-analyst-1605">&#x27;Why allow 10,000 flood control projects when you only need 1?&#x27; - analyst</a></div><p>Lacson also claimed that in 2022, a lawmaker-friend told him there were at least 67 House members who were contractors, and the number may have increased since then, because there were no minutes or records of insertions in the budget in the bicameral conference committee. </p><p>&quot;There are no minutes or records. The only sign would be the project in a district with signs showing who proposed it,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;FOR LATER RELEASE&#x27; PROJECTS</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Citing figures from the Department of Budget and Management, Sen. Imee Marcos said there was about P1.3 trillion worth of government projects in the 2025 budget, which have been held back and tagged as &quot;For Later Release.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Hindi po para sa infrastructure lamang ang mga programa at proyektong naka &#x27;FLR&#x27;. Ang mga proyektong ito ay nakakalat sa iba&#x27;t ibang departamento at ahensiya ng pamahalaan,&quot; Sen. Marcos said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/1/ph-spent-over-p1-trillion-on-flood-control-in-last-decade-says-senator-1252">PH spent over P1 trillion on flood control in last decade, says senator</a></div><p>&quot;Karamihan po dito ay mga karagdagang pondo na inilagay ng lehislatura sa mga kasalukuyang programa ng pamahalaan sa karamihan ng mga ahensiya kagaya ng sa agrikultura, edukasyon, kalusugan at infrastructure. Sa initial report ng DBM, ito ay umaabot sa halagang P1.3 trillion,&quot; she added.</p><p>Sen. Marcos shared with the media a list of &quot;For Later Release Expenditures&quot; list in different institutions. </p><p>Based on that list, over P572 billion, the largest amount, was in the DPWH.</p><p>Only the Judiciary, Civil Service Commission, Commission on Audit, Office of the Ombudsman, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Agrarian Reform, and Congress of the Philippines had zero.</p><p>The list, sourced by Marcos from the DBM, carries a note explaining that it includes programs or projects under the budget of the concerned department to be implemented by other departments.</p><p>Sen. Marcos urged the government to finally release the P1.3 trillion worth of &quot;For Later Release&quot; projects in the national budget following her brother President Marcos&#x27; mandate for a performance review and audit of government projects.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5tp_7-okInA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/66Z-vKeZoXo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>"Isn’t it absurd na directly proportional ang rise ng floodwaters sa increase ng budget sa flood control? Parang it doesn’t make sense. Parang complete paradox," said Sen. Ping Lacson.</p>

"Isn’t it absurd na directly proportional ang rise ng floodwaters sa increase ng budget sa flood control? Parang it doesn’t make sense. Parang complete paradox," said Sen. Ping Lacson.

'Politicians as contractors?': Senate to probe alleged flood control budget misuse

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'Politicians as contractors?': Senate to probe alleged flood control budget misuse

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 31, 2025 04:08 PM PHT

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