PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. yesterday released a “menu” of viable projects where the cancelled funding for flood control projects in the proposed 2026 national budget can be realigned.
In a press conference in Malacañang, the President said the budget realignments should go to more priority sectors and social services programs, which would directly benefit the people.
“So we have made a menu for our legislators to follow, then say that all insertions, all changes made can only be made to the benefit of these agencies,” he said, explaining that the menu will “guide lawmakers in making budget adjustments.”
The President has ordered the cancellation of the P275 billion funding for flood control projects in the proposed 2026 budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) amid the discovery of “ghost” and substandard flood mitigation projects, and following reports of irregularities, such as double allocations, in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to Congress.
Marcos said the government can afford a zero-flood control budget next year because they expect to generate savings from the current P350 billion budget for the line-item.
The President said the flood control funding can go to programs such as those in the education, agriculture, health, housing, infra, ICT, labor, social, and energy sectors.
Programs in the education sector include the construction of laboratory buildings, students’ dormitories and academic buildings under state universities and colleges (SUCs); basic education facilities and school buildings, textbooks and other instructional materials, laptops and computerization program; and the Last Mile School program under the Department of Education (DepEd).
Other programs that could be funded include the construction of farm-to-market roads (FMR), rice subsidy, and establishment of postharvest facilities, cold storage expansion project, and fish ports under the Department of Agriculture (DA); construction of irrigation dams under the National Irrigation Administration (NIA); and the establishment of specialty hospitals, the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP), provision of medicines, and Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIP) under the Department of Health (DOH).
The President said additional funding can also be given to the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) program under the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and National Housing Authority (NHA); the establishment of evacuation centers under the Office of Civil Defense; and implementation of the free wi-fi program under the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
The 2026 flood control budget could also be used for the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); and the electrification projects of the Department of Energy (DOE) and Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).
