MANILA – Senator Bam Aquino questioned the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) over the allocation of its ₱243 billion flood control budget for 2026, warning that funds may be spread thinly across legislative districts instead of being focused on the country’s most flood-prone areas.

In the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, Aquino asked DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan if the amount was targeted toward priority provinces. Bonoan replied that the allocation was distributed per legislative district based on local requests.

“So, ibig sabihin, whether yung lugar ay flood prone o hindi, meron silang pang-flood control project? Is it that a wise assessment?” Aquino asked, suggesting that reallocating the funds to the hardest-hit areas would be more effective. Bonoan said he would support such a move “if that would be the consensus of Congress.”

Aquino also pressed Bonoan on the issue of ghost projects, noting that their existence implies collusion by multiple officials over a two-year project implementation period. “Napakaraming tao iyong kailangan talaga magbulag-bulagan para dito,” Aquino said. Bonoan agreed that “many, many people actually will be involved in the process” if such projects existed.

The senator urged DPWH to submit a more responsive budget, suggesting that flood control allocations be aligned with actual data from agencies such as the DENR, DBM, and NAMRIA. He said the ongoing inquiry offers a chance to correct allocations before the 2026 budget is finalized.

“Let’s work on a budget that will really address our flood control. Kung may mga lugar kailangan ng mas malaking pondo, why not? Tapos kung may mga lugar na wala naman pong flooding, huwag na nating bigyan ng flood control,” Aquino said.