The government has proposed P107.4 billion for flood control projects under the 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP), Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Robert Kim de Leon said Tuesday, August 11.
The proposed allocation comes a year after the government provided no funding for new flood control projects in the 2026 national budget, amid controversies surrounding alleged anomalous and “ghost” projects.
During the ceremonial turnover of the P7.2 trillion NEP to the House of Representatives, De Leon said the allocation was restored partly in response to the severe flooding recently experienced in various parts of the country and the need to complete unfinished flood control projects.
The proposed funding covers maintenance, repair, rehabilitation and improvement of existing flood control infrastructure, as well as new projects.
"Alam po ninyo, lalo na ngayon na nag-uulan at nakikita po natin number one yung kahalagahan ng pagkakaroon ng maayos na flood control projects upang maiwasan na makapaminsala yung excessive water na lumalabas sa ating mga kalsada," De Leon said.
"Kaya po nung pinag-uusapan natin yung pagbuo ng 2027 National Expenditure Program, isa po ito sa mahalagang konsiderasyon kung ibabalik yung flood control project dahil una't higit, hindi naman din po natin pwedeng pabayaan yung mga naumpisahan na na mga flood control projects at mas hindi po magiging maayos yung epekto kung mananatiling nakatiwangwang yung mga naumpisahan ng mga flood control project," he explained.
Of the total allocation, P19.6 billion is earmarked for capital outlay, including ongoing foreign-assisted projects, while the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has also proposed a P3.41-billion flood control program, which includes the operation and maintenance of existing flood control structures, pumping stations, facilities and equipment.
De Leon said safeguards have been put in place to ensure that flood control projects are properly identified and their locations properly tagged to prevent the implementation of so-called “ghost” projects.
Stricter monitoring will also be implemented through COMPASS and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Transparency Portal.
The restoration of funding for flood control projects comes a year after the program received no allocation amid controversies surrounding alleged anomalous projects.
De Leon stressed the importance of completing unfinished flood control projects, saying abandoning them could worsen the impact of heavy rains and flooding on communities.
The DBM formally turned over the proposed P7.2-trillion 2027 national budget to the House of Representatives on Tuesday, August 11.
The proposed budget is 6% higher than the P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026.
Under the proposed 2027 NEP, the Department of Education (DepEd) has the largest allocation at P976 billion, followed by the DPWH with P644 billion, the Department of Health (DOH) with P353.8 billion, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) with P332.5 billion.
