Marcos halts flood control projects over irregularities — Tulfo

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has temporarily suspended several flood control projects due to irregularities, Senator Erwin Tulfo revealed Wednesday.

In an ambush interview, Tulfo cited information he received from a source within the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), revealing that President Marcos had issued a directive to withhold the release of funds for the project.

“Kagaya ngayon ang daming pinahold ni BBM [Bongbong Marcos) na flood control project for your information (Just like now, BBM has put a lot of flood control projects on hold, for your information),” Tulfo told reporters.

“Wala siya pinaparelease pa sa flood control dahil nakita niya may mga problema. You ask malacañang about it, I know it. Pinagsabi sa akin. Sabi ng DBM, pinapahold po ng Presidente, sabi ko, good (He hasn’t approved the release of funds for flood control yet because he saw some problems. You can ask Malacañang about it, I know, because someone told me. The DBM said the President ordered it to be put on hold, and I said, that’s good),” he added.

Meanwhile, Tulfo emphasized the importance of allowing the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to carry out its mandate without interference from lawmakers, particularly in flood control projects.

The senator questioned the involvement of legislators in implementing flood control initiatives.

“Anong karapatan ng Senador, Congressman, mag-flood control? (What right does a senator or congressman have to implement flood control projects?) None!,” he said.

Tulfo asserted that lawmakers should focus solely on their primary role of crafting legislation.

“Ang gusto ko lamang po ma'am, let DPWH do their jobs, give the money to DPWH para wala sisihan, di ba? (What I want, ma'am, is to let the DPWH do their jobs — give the money to the DPWH so there will be no one to blame, right?),” he said.

Tulfo also announced plans to call for an investigation into allegations that some legislators are interfering in national flood control projects.

“I will make sure that there will be an investigation on this. Hindi lang investigation, kundi na make sure na national government ang mag implement ng flood control, hindi politiko (Not just an investigation, but also to make sure that it's the national government implementing flood control projects, not politicians),” Tulfo said.

He continued. “Hindi si congressman, hindi si senador, kundi ang public works and highways, the national government (Not the congressman, not the senator, but the Public Works and Highways, the national government).”

Malacañang earlier said Marcos directed all concerned government agencies to fully mobilize resources in response to the widespread flooding caused by days of torrential rains.

Marcos specifically instructed the immediate clearing of drainage systems to help prevent rapid flooding, especially in Metro Manila.