Senator Sherwin Gatchalian assured the public on Sunday, September 14, that flood control initiatives will not stop despite the Senate’s decision to scrap the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) ₱275-billion request for 2026 due to corruption concerns.
Gatchalian explained that the DPWH, led by Secretary Vivencio Dizon, agreed to align with the Senate’s directive by dropping the controversial allocation. Instead, the agency will rely on previously approved but unused funds from 2022 to 2025 to push through with necessary projects. “If ever, they will leave a small allocation for NOAH-identified flooded areas. But as a rule, they will scrap it, they will no longer resubmit the ₱270 billion budget request for flood control projects,” he said in a dzBB interview.
The senator emphasized that not all projects are wasteful, highlighting that many local leaders have vouched for the effectiveness of flood pumps and related facilities. Still, questionable structures such as dikes and river walls will undergo technical scrutiny to prevent repeat issues.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier clarified that around ₱350 billion in unspent appropriations remain available and must be utilized before new proposals are considered.
Meanwhile, allegations of massive corruption remain a point of contention. BH party-list Rep. Robert Nazal claimed that some ₱1.3 trillion was lost in just four years to systemic corruption within DPWH flood control projects. “It is unacceptable that trillions have been spent, yet our people are still drowning in floods,” he stressed, urging for a “science-based, nationwide flood control blueprint.”
In Oriental Mindoro, an independent engineering audit countered suspicions of “ghost projects,” confirming that six controversial flood control undertakings are real and in progress. Lead auditor Annabelle Tungol said the projects complied with design standards but admitted some deficiencies, including cracks and exposed rebars, pointing to lapses tied to a single contractor.
