MANILA — Senator Bam Aquino said he is eyeing a reassessment of the proposed P243 billion flood control budget for 2026, stressing that funds for non-essential projects should be redirected to urgent priorities such as education and healthcare.

“If we really concentrate and put the money where the important programs are, ano ba talaga ang dapat pagkagastusan natin nang tama?” said Aquino, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

Aquino said the amount earmarked for flood control could be significantly cut and realigned to support programs that directly address the basic needs of Filipinos.

“The P243 billion in the 2026 budget for flood control, I’m guessing mababawasan. That will be slashed significantly. I’m hoping some of that will go to education and maybe some of that will go to healthcare,” he added.

The senator underscored the need to prioritize free education and universal healthcare, saying sufficient funding could resolve longstanding issues such as the 166,000-classroom backlog and lack of school equipment.

“Five million kids wala silang upuan. Close to 25 percent of our schoolchildren aren’t even sitting in seats. 166,000 classrooms ang kulang. These are all immediate and medium-term… If we get the funding now, maybe in a year or two years, that can be resolved,” Aquino said.

He also pressed for clarity on the budget required for the full implementation of the Universal Healthcare Act, which he supported during his interpellation on the privilege speech of Sen. JV Ejercito, the law’s principal sponsor.

“Magkano ba talaga iyong kailangan para ma-achieve natin ang goal of universal healthcare. Kung hindi malinaw iyong numerong iyon, hindi rin malinaw ang ating mga goal,” he noted.

Aquino has filed Senate Resolution No. 28 calling for a review of how the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other agencies spent the ₱360 billion flood control budget under the 2025 General Appropriations Act. He said that despite ₱1.47 trillion allocated for flood control from 2009 to 2024, flooding remains a persistent problem due to poor drainage, outdated pumping stations, and ineffective measures.

As part of efforts to address the classroom shortage, Aquino also filed Senate Bill No. 121, or the Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Act, which seeks to authorize local government units and private sector partners to construct classrooms with national funding support.