Imee Marcos warns flood control cuts could endanger vulnerable areas

Senator Imee Marcos has raised concerns over the sweeping removal of flood control funding in the proposed P6.793-trillion 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), warning that vulnerable regions could be left exposed even as corruption investigations continue.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to sign the 2026 national budget into law this morning following the bicameral conference committee’s ratification late last year.

A major flashpoint during budget deliberations was the sharp reduction and restructuring of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget, particularly its flood control programs, amid a widening corruption scandal involving alleged “ghost projects,” duplication, and other irregularities.

The proposed 2026 budget initially allocated nearly P880 billion to DPWH. However, after congressional scrutiny and a directive from the President, all locally funded flood control projects were removed, leaving only maintenance and operating funds for existing systems.

In an interview on DZRH, Marcos questioned the blanket removal of flood control funding, stressing that some areas still require long-term mitigation projects.

“Ako kasi hindi ako naniniwala na dapat tanggalin lahat ng flood control projects,” she said, citing mountainous regions such as the Cordillera and Ilocos that remain prone to floods and landslides.

She also warned that low-lying urban areas like Malabon, Caloocan, and Navotas, which historically suffer severe flooding, could be placed at greater risk without continued investment in flood control infrastructure.

Marcos further criticized what she described as the inadequate prosecution of individuals allegedly involved in the flood control scandal, noting that the public lost a major project intended to prevent catastrophic flooding in high-risk cities. She added that essential infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and dams, were also affected by the budget cuts.

Her remarks echoed broader concerns among some lawmakers who argue that flood mitigation should not be sidelined while corruption probes remain unresolved.

The controversy comes as the Marcos administration pushes reforms in infrastructure planning and transparency. Last year, the President launched a DPWH Transparency Portal to allow the public to monitor infrastructure projects, a move aimed at curbing misuse of public funds and strengthening accountability.