Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Workers carry out rehabilitation and dredging works along the Marikina riverbanks in Marikina City on August 11, 2025,  to address flooding caused by elevated water levels during heavy rainfall. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATED) — House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin of Iloilo&#x27;s 1st District said Monday she believes flood-control projects were “demonized” due to some “bad eggs,” but funding for them ultimately has to be brought back.  If these programs are allocated funding in 2027, Garin said she can “definitely” assure the public that there will be no repeat of anomalies.Garin cited statements from the president as well as safeguards from the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Budget and Management that “will all deter a repeat of what happened in the past.”There are no allocations for locally-funded flood-control projects in the 2026 national budget, a reaction to alleged corruption in past projects.Garin said that flood-control projects are really needed is some areas.“And with the proper watchdogs, kailangan talaga siyang mabalik kasi,” she said.(And the funding has to be put back with the proper watchdogs.)She said the DPWH, DBM, and local governments put numerous requirements in place before including flood control projects in the National Expenditure Program.The lawmaker added there is also a plan to blacklist contractors behind substandard flood control projects.She said there will “definitely” be parameters to ensure budget insertions comply with requirements. Garin acknowledged that &quot;insertion&quot; now has negative connotations but said sometimes they are necessary to adjust budget items.<div> </div><div>PROJECT VETTING</div>House Deputy Speaker Francisco Paolo Ortega V of La Union&#x27;s 1st District earlier Monday said severe flooding last week shows the need for the projects, which he said were &quot;tainted&quot; by corruption issues.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/10/investigation-sought-into-non-operation-of-two-marikina-pumping-stations-1358">Investigation sought into &#x27;non-operation&#x27; of two Marikina pumping stations </a></div>&quot;Marami pong dadaanan na vetting, marami pong dadaanan na documentation… Sobrang transparent po ng budget hearing natin and I&#x27;m expecting nothing less,&quot; he also said of the process for funding the projects.(That will go through a lot of vetting and documentation. Our budget hearings are so transparent and I&#x27;m expecting nothing less.)He said the government should be able to follow the trail of budget proposals and amendments from Congress to the bicameral conference committee and until President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signs it into law.House Committee on Ways and Means Chairperson Miro Quimbo of Marikina&#x27;s 2nd District also said flood-control projects are “not necessarily bad”, adding that safeguards are already “in place”.He said the projects have made flood-prone Marikina safer.&quot;We just need to keep doing it right, making it transparent, and then may accountability ang mga tao (there should be accountability),” he said.He said among the safeguards is clearly identifying who proposed a certain project.<div> </div><div>REFORMS NEEDED</div>ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. Antonio Tinio called for reforms in planning, funding, and implementing flood control programs to prevent anomalies.He said government should reconsider the piecemeal funding of projects, which could be implemented across legislative districts.“Dahil hinahati-hati sa mga distrito at may limitasyon... ang kaya lang pondohan 150 meters, tapos wala na, putol na,&quot; he said.(Because it is cut up among districts and there are limits... They might be able to fund just 150 meters and then that&#x27;s it.)<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/weather-traffic/2026/8/10/habagat-dumps-weeks-worth-of-rain-in-several-areas-luzon-dams-record-gains-1404">Habagat dumps weeks’ worth of rain in several areas; Luzon dams record gains </a></div>He said projects should have multi-year funding and that the budget for them should not be chopped up.“Wala pa ring malinaw na safeguards na ‘yung nangyari noong nakaraan ay hindi na mauulit,” he said.(There are still no clear safeguards to prevent what happened in the past.)

House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin of Iloilo's 1st District said Monday she believes flood-control projects were “demonized” due to some “bad eggs,” but funding for them ultimately has to be brought back.

House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin of Iloilo's 1st District said Monday she believes flood-control projects were “demonized” due to some “bad eggs,” but funding for them ultimately has to be brought back.

House leaders push for flood control funding in 2027 budget

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House leaders push for flood control funding in 2027 budget

Vivienne Gulla,

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 10, 2026 04:43 PM PHT

|

Updated August 10, 2026 05:29 PM PHT

Read More:

Paolo Ortega V

Miro Quimbo

Antonio Tinio

National budget

flood-control projects

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