President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has announced that nearly ₱36 billion originally intended for flood control projects under the proposed 2026 budget will instead be redirected to social welfare initiatives of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The funds will cover a range of programs, including the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) program, and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). Marcos said the move reflects his administration’s focus on addressing immediate needs while larger infrastructure projects remain under audit and review due to corruption controversies.
“Pinag-aaralan natin ang pag-aamyenda ng 4Ps Act upang matugunan ng wasto ang ating mga benepisyaryo,” Marcos said, noting that changes in the law may be necessary to ensure the program reaches those who need it most.
He further emphasized the government’s duty to uplift the dignity of Filipinos: “Pinapangako ko na ako ay magsisikap upang ang bawat pamilya, bawat Pilipino ay makakalakad nang may dignidad.”
The reallocation follows Marcos’s earlier pronouncements that no new flood control allocations will be included in the 2026 budget, citing still-unspent funds from the 2025 ₱350-billion flood control appropriation and ongoing investigations into alleged anomalies. Instead, the administration is prioritizing resources for education, health, agriculture, housing, ICT, and social services, while continuing only foreign-assisted flood control projects worth around ₱50 billion.
Marcos also disclosed that in an internal review, 20 percent of all flood control projects—amounting to ₱100 billion—went to just 15 contractors, raising further questions about concentration and transparency in project implementation.
