The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will no longer receive budget allocations for flood control projects due to unutilized funds from previous projects, Senator Panfilo Lacson confirmed.

In an interview in dzRH's Damdaming Bayan on Wednesday, Lacson said that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. ordered the removal of funds.

“Wala, mismong si Pangulong Bongbong Marcos ang nagsabi na tanggalan ng [pondo] dahil may mga hindi pa nagamit na pondo para sa mga flood control projects,” Lacson said.

He explained that P255.5 billion initially earmarked for flood control was immediately deducted during the submission of the National Expenditure Program (NEP).

“Binabawas na yung 255.5 bilyon agad-agad noong pagpasa ng NEP nagsubmit ng erata ‘yung DPWH at tinanggal ‘yung P255b sa kasamaang palad hindi umabot sa Senate ‘yung 255 bilyon dahil sa House pa lang naantado na, nalipat na kung saan-saan,” Lacson said.

Lacson clarified the recent DPWH's budget deadlock, noting that the Senate is only finalizing the special provision for safeguards in the proposed allocation.

He recalled that disagreements arose when DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon claimed that the Senate had miscalculated reductions, but the Senate maintained that the 25% cut, announced by the President and Dizon due to overpriced materials, was justified.

“Even bago ang bicam, pinag-usapan na namin sa caucus kasi may mga counterpart kami sa House, umaapela noon pa na bawasan yung cut… Nag-announce ang Pangulo, nag-announce si Dizon na kailangang mabawasan ng 25%,” Lacson said.

Lacson said discussions now focus on a smaller portion of the budget, around P45 billion, which the Senate is considering for allocation.