A whopping P9.2 billion in unprogrammed appropriations (UA) was allocated for Visayas in recent budgets to bankroll flood control projects, with the lion’s share going to typhoon-battered Cebu, an opposition lawmaker said Friday.

Despite such a substantial amount, Deputy Minority Leader Antonio Tinio pointed out that these so-called anti-flood programs fell short of preventing the deadly onslaught of Typhoon Tino in Visayas, fueling suspicion of possible corruption. 

Broken down, Cebu received the highest allocation at P8.43 billion for 102 anti-flood projects in 2023 and 2024, but lacks basic details, according to Tinio, citing findings by his office. 

“This is corruption by design. How can the public verify a project with no specifications?" he averred.

The 41 projects were supposedly implemented in 2023, costing about P3.15 billion, while the 61 projects last year had a price tag of P5.28 billion. 

Typhoon-stricken Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental also reportedly received P145 million and P630 million, respectively. 

The budget for Negros Oriental was allegedly used to fund three flood control projects, including two projects worth P45 million in 2023 and a single project worth P100 million in 2024. 

As for Negros Occidental, the P630 million was divided into 10 projects, including two worth P60 million in 2023 and eight worth P570 million in 2024.

Tinio contended that President Marcos Jr. shares the blame for the widespread devastation caused by the typhoon in the Visayas because the projects in question were discretionary programs funded from the UA, which he approved himself.

“He is directly accountable for these projects and must acknowledge and explain why these failed to mitigate the devastation,” he stressed.

The solon continued, “UA is a slush fund for corruption, responsible for deaths and devastation in Cebu and other areas hit by Typhoon Tino. Billions were supposedly spent, yet communities were left defenseless.”

The UA are "standby funds" that can be used when the government collects more revenue than expected or when additional grants or foreign funds are generated.

The government typically taps the UA in emergencies or when infrastructure projects, social aid programs, and other initiatives are required.

Tinio’s colleagues in the minority bloc have vigorously called for the abolition of the UA in the 2026 budget, citing corruption concerns made evident by the flood control projects. 

The contentious UA has swelled to unprecedented levels since 2023, the first full year of Marcos in office, reaching almost P2 trillion. Though P168.2 billion was reportedly vetoed in the 2025 General Appropriations Act.

In 2023 and 2024, a staggering P141 billion was reportedly charged to the UA to finance flood control projects, which have now been at the center of a sweeping corruption probe involving members of Congress, DPWH officials, and private contractors.

Despite efforts to scrap it, the House retained P243 in standby funds in its version of the 2026 budget, with the lion’s share going to bankroll infrastructure projects to be co-financed by foreign governments.