A total of P2.49 billion has been set aside for flood control-related work under the proposed P6.793-trillion national spending plan for 2026, following budget deliberations completed by the legislature.
Under the allocations approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate, the funding will be managed by the Department of Public Works and Highways and distributed across all 18 regions of the country. Each region, including the National Capital Region, the Cordillera Administrative Region, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, has been allotted P100 million for flood control and drainage systems, as well as related structures and facilities.
Separate from the regional allocations, another P690 million was programmed for nationwide flood control initiatives. These include funding for the Flood Control and Sabo Engineering Center, river basin and floodway structures in areas such as Camanava, Manggahan, Agno, Iloilo, Laoag, and Lower Agusan, as well as projects tied to post-disaster rehabilitation, esteros improvement in Metro Manila, Manila Bay rehabilitation under a Supreme Court mandamus, and flood risk management works for major river systems. A portion of the funding is also intended for desilting, dredging, and waterway cleaning activities.
Despite these allocations, the proposed P529-billion overall budget for the DPWH does not provide funding for new flood control projects. This comes amid an ongoing investigation into allegations that some past flood control undertakings were linked to irregularities involving kickbacks among government officials.
The final bicameral conference committee report significantly reduced the DPWH’s proposed budget from P880 billion to P529 billion before ratification.
Beyond flood control, the agency was granted P8.5 billion for routine maintenance of national roads. Eastern Visayas received the largest share of this amount at P704.9 million, followed by the Davao Region with P604 million and the Negros Island Region with about P579 million. Other regions received allocations ranging from more than P560 million down to P172.3 million for BARMM. These amounts are separate from an additional P25 million earmarked for the upkeep of newly converted national roads.
The ratified 2026 General Appropriations Act was transmitted to the executive branch on December 29 and remains under review by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his economic team. The measure has not yet been signed into law.
