DPWH scraps P252 billion in flood control projects in revised proposal for 2026

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Public Works Department has reduced its 2026 proposed budget by P255 billion, scrapping the funding for all locally-funded flood control projects in the wake of investigations into the alleged corrupt practices.

In a letter to House Speaker Martin Romualdez dated Sept. 15, Secretary Vince Dizon said the revised DPWH budget proposal now stands at P625.8 billion from P881.3 billion.

He said the main highlight of the revision was President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to remove all locally-funded flood control projects, which amounted to P252 billion.

The remaining P3 billion reduction was not specified.

“The department has exerted its best efforts, within the very limited period allotted, to ensure that the issues raised in the previously submitted budget, such as the funding of completed and duplicate projects, are adequately addressed,” Dizon said.

The secretary also asked the Congress to reallocate the reduction to projects in agriculture, health care, housing, labor, social welfare, and information technology.

The House appropriations committee earlier extended the submission of the revised DPWH budget proposal to Sept. 15.

The first DPWH budget deliberation was deferred to make way for the revision due to questionable items in the original proposal. It was rescheduled to Sept. 17.