Senator Imee Marcos called on government agencies to bring forth a complete account of flood control budget expenditures and the progress of its projects following widespread flooding in the Bicol region, which had received Php 132 billion for the mitigation of such calamity.
Marcos censured the Bicol region’s critical state given its billion-peso flood control budget, and demanded that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in particular should submit a full account of disbursements.
“It’s unacceptable that Php 132 billion has been designated for Bicol flood control projects, yet communities remain inundated, and families are suffering. The public deserves transparency on where these funds went,” she said.
As per the 2024 General Appropriations Act, Bicol was granted Php 31.94 billion this year, its six-year total amounting to almost Php 133 billion. In only two years, more than Php 86.6 billion has been used up, and still Severe Tropical Storm (STS) Kristine devastated the region, uncovering flood mitigation deficiencies.
Marcos wants to look into the dispensation of the budget and a comprehensive audit of upcoming budget hearings so as to pinpoint inconsistencies and rectify disjointed objectives.
“It’s clear that these supposed ‘meaningful projects’ are not reaching the communities that need them most. We need accountability, not just rhetoric,” she stated.
However, the House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson and Ako-Bicol Partylist Representative Elizaldy Co said allocations for Bicol have not reached the billions and that flood control infrastructure strategies have been more restrained. The Congress, he alleged, had kept “unnecessary” flood control expenses from using public funds.
