Senate to scrutinize revised flood control budget - Gatchalian

Metro Manila, Philippines - A “sweeping review” by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) of its budget proposal for next year will still go through a fine tooth comb in the Senate, said budget committee chairman Sen. Win Gatchalian on Friday, Sept. 5.

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon told a House of Representatives hearing also on Friday that it will revise its 2026 expenditure plan and present it in a week. The president earlier ordered Dizon and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman to review as well the DPWH budget. 

“Ang sentiment ng senators, wag mag-approve ng ‘ghost’ projects, projects na anomalous at may red flags, ‘yan ang general sentiment,” Gatchalian told reporters in a virtual news conference on Friday, Sept. 5. “With that, general sentiment din nila ilipat itong [P270 billion].”

[Translation: The general sentiment of senators is not to approve “ghost” projects, anomalous projects, and those with red flags. With that, it is also the general sentiment to transfer the P270 billion.]

The flood control budget was set at P270 billion, but this may change following a corruption crackdown ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on questionable projects.

Gatchalian said he is eyeing to transfer the allocation to the education sector instead so that the education budget could reach four percent of the country's economy — a UNESCO benchmark.

He said the revised budget will be carefully scrutinized.

“Ine-expect ko ibabalik nila ‘yan sa amin through errata,” Gatchalian said. “Ire-review pa rin namin ‘yan, we can’t just take it hook, line, and sinker.”

“Pero kung maayos naman, kung justified na merong feasibility study, detailed engineering, wala ng duplication, then potentially ‘yong budget pwede ma-retain,” he said.

[Translation: We expect to receive an errata. We will review it as we can’t just take it hook, line, and sinker. If the revised proposal is justified with feasibility studies, detailed engineering design, and without duplication, then potentially the budget will be retained.]

He also said he has talked with Education Secretary Sonny Angara in case the budget will be reallocated to the Department of Education (DepEd), as he is concerned with the agency’s absorptive capacity.

Gatchalian said lawmakers can introduce a special provision in the budget bill to authorize the DepEd to build classrooms through another modality, and not only with the DPWH.

He said he has information that there is still around P350 billion left in flood control funds from previous years that could be used for ongoing projects by 2026.

“Kahit wala tayong ilagay, tuloy-tuloy ang construction sa flood control projects provided na di siya ghost,” the senator said.

[Translation: Even if we don’t allocate funding, the construction of flood control projects next year will continue, provided they are not ghosts.]

DBM should improve vetting process

Gatchalian also urged the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to improve its review of agency budgets.

He said the DBM has the technical capacity and the manpower to vet each line item.

Gatchalian also said budget proposals submitted to the DBM should be detailed to eliminate corruption.

“Kailangan talaga i-review nila ulit ‘yong kanilang budget, lalo ‘yong agencies na maraming binibili at maraming kino-construct, just to make sure na line item talaga with details,” he said.

[Translation: Agencies should really review their budget, especially those that have large procurement or construction plans, just to make sure that the line items have details.]