Senate to scrutinize P107 billion flood control budget

Motorists and commuters wade through floodwaters along Timog Avenue in Quezon City on Monday as heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon inundated parts of the capital.

STAR / Miguel De Guzman

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Panfilo Lacson vowed to scrutinize the P107.4-billion flood control allocation for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for next year.

Lacson said the recent flooding in and around Metro Manila is the latest wake-up call against corruption in flood control projects.

Lacson told radio dwIZ yesterday the monsoon-induced flooding renewed public furor over the practices of legislators, local officials and contractors in
allegedly skimming kickbacks from substandard or non-existent flood control works.

“What happened recently was like divine intervention to remind Filipinos that it was the result of corruption,” he said.

The government poured in P1.939 trillion in flood control funds from 2011 to 2025, and yet flooding persisted. Lacson blamed it on corruption.

He had cited testimonies of former DPWH officials Roberto Bernardo, Henry Alcantara and Brice Hernandez that 35 to 40 percent of public funds were pocketed in substandard or non-existent flood control projects.

Regarding the proposed P107.4-billion budget of the DPWH for its flood control management program, Lacson said he will ask for the government’s updated master plan and scrutinize it.

He said the government shelved the flood control master plan first drawn up by former DPWH secretary Rogelio Singson during the administration of the late Benigno Aquino III.

Lacson questioned the DPWH’s reasoning behind the P107.4-billion budget to repair existing flood control projects.

“Do we need to spend another P107 billion to fix the defective flood control projects for slope protection and flood mitigation?” he said.