Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

Some congressmen and newly appointed Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon agreed on Friday that funding for flood control projects should be “science-based”.They issued the statement during DPWH’s budget briefing before the House Committee on Appropriations on Friday, after lawmakers criticized the proposed allocation for flood control projects next year, which they perceive is misaligned with the list of flood prone areas.“Hindi natin tinatamaan ang binabahang probinsya natin… Sa pinaglalaanan po natin ang pondo ng DPWH… 12 sa mga probinsya wala po dito sa top 20 (flood prone) provinces,” House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan said.“How do you determine which areas need these flood control projects? Nakadepende ba ito sa need, o baka naman sa laki ng kickback?” House Deputy Minority Leader and ML Party List Representative Leila de Lima asked.“It&#x27;s quite arbitrary… There is a 2014 study, a master plan for NCR and 18 river basins across the country… Unfortunately, I don&#x27;t think it is used as the basis… Kailangan po magbago ito, kailangan po magkaroon na ng basehan at hindi na po arbitrary ang paglalagay ng mga proyekto, lalo na ang mga flood control sa iba’t ibang mga lugar sa Pilipinas,” Dizon replied.ACT Teachers Party List Representative Antonio Tinio asked the DPWH to only propose funding flood control programs that are part of a long-term master plan with “scientific basis”. Dizon welcomed this suggestion.“Pwede po bang para sa 2026, wala na po munang flood management programs along major river basins unless it is part of a masterplan na may scientific basis talaga? Kung flood management para sa distrito, pwede naman ‘yung sa canals, ‘yung sa drainage. Pero ‘pag along rivers, it has to be part of the implementation of a long-term master plan. Otherwise, pag paisa-isa, wag na po natin payagan,” Tinio said.“Opo, pwedeng pwede po ‘yun… Magandang basehan ‘yung flood zoning based on Project Noah sa UP,” Dizon replied.“We’re with you on that… When we receive back the proposed budget of the DPWH, we will make sure flood control projects included there in would be one, dapat tagged as a red zone in Project Noah, and two, hihingan natin ng regional flood mitigation plan,” House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Rep. Mikaela Suansing added.The masterplan for flood risk management in Metro Manila is expected to be completed next year, and detailed engineering is seen to be completed in 2027. The DPWH is eyeing a 2027 implementation of that masterplan.<div>MULTIPLE ENTRIES</div>Tinio, meanwhile, questioned alleged duplicate flood control projects and supposed multiple entries in the 2025 budget, which he estimates reach nearly a billion pesos.“Ang explanation po sa akin ngayon, halimbawa may isang ilog… mukhang naka chop-chop into either phases or segments,” Dizon replied.“Bakit hinati na P150M each. May rule ba na it cannot be more than P150M?” Tinio asked.“Mukhang ang rason is dahil may limit sa district. Meaning, above P150M, iyan ay above ng distrito at aakyat na sa region,” Dizon answered.Dizon gave assurances “red flags” in DPWH’s proposed 2026 budget will be removed in the agency’s amended proposal.<div>COMPLIED</div>All DPWH officials ordered to submit their courtesy resignation as part of the agency-wide “clean up” have already complied, according to Dizon.“100% na po ang nagsubmit at we are now in the process, Madam Chair, of reviewing,” he told the panel.Amid allegations of anomaly in a number of DPWH’s flood control projects, Akbayan Party List Representative Chel Diokno proposed that DPWH officials be asked to execute bank secrecy waivers.“Perhaps it would be good to, number one, consider asking the employees and officials of DPWH to execute waivers of the bank secrecy law. Although that&#x27;s not part of the standard operating procedure. I think there&#x27;s no legal impediment--requesting them to do that,” Diokno said.“It may as well be good to issue an order securing all government electronic devices, computers that may have been used by those who have been dismissed or who have retired or resigned because those are government property. Walang right to privacy ang mga opisyal na gumamit no’n. And under the law and jurisprudence, you may access that and determine if there are communications there that are incriminating. Magagamit &#x27;yun laban sa kanila,” he added.“The Supreme Court has a rule on issuance of cyber warrants that would apply to all offenses including, I understand, corruption offenses that are done through the use of any kind of electronic or computer device. So, if you come up with information or evidence looking in that direction, perhaps it may be something to consider to secure warrants to intercept electronic data or to obtain data already found in cellphones and other electronic devices,” Diokno noted.<div>RALLY</div>Tension erupted on Friday in a rally outside the House of Representatives, as the House Committee on Appropriations deliberated on the proposed 2026 budget for the DPWH.Groups slammed the alleged anomalies in the agency’s flood control projects.

Some congressmen and newly appointed Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon agreed on Friday that funding for flood control projects should be “science-based”.

Some congressmen and newly appointed Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon agreed on Friday that funding for flood control projects should be “science-based”.

Congressmen, Dizon agree funding flood control projects should be 'science-based'

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Congressmen, Dizon agree funding flood control projects should be 'science-based'

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 06, 2025 12:06 AM PHT

Read More:

House of Representatives

DPWH

Vince Dizon

flood control projects

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