Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has questioned the effectiveness of the government’s flood control program after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) spent a total of P1.939 trillion from 2011 to 2025 while flooding continues to affect communities across the country.
Lacson raised the issue Monday as heavy monsoon rains caused flooding and disrupted activities in several areas, including Metro Manila.
“FLOOD CONTROL VS UNCONTROLLED FLOOD: PhP1.939 trillion funded the DPWH flood control management program under three presidents from 2011-2025 and the result is uncontrolled flood,” Lacson said in a post on X.
Based on data cited by Lacson, annual DPWH funding for flood management increased from P11.323 billion in 2011 to P372.814 billion in 2025.
The annual allocations were P10.816 billion in 2012, P15.817 billion in 2013, P30.001 billion in 2014, P47.849 billion in 2015 and P67.740 billion in 2016.
Funding increased further to P81.223 billion in 2017 and exceeded P100 billion in 2018, when the DPWH received P139.001 billion for flood management.
The allocations reached P126.062 billion in 2019, P116.047 billion in 2020, P140.462 billion in 2021 and P145.622 billion in 2022.
Flood control funding then rose sharply to P287.018 billion in 2023, P346.771 billion in 2024 and P372.814 billion in 2025.
The spending covered the administrations of former presidents Benigno Aquino III and Rodrigo Duterte and the current administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Lacson previously pointed out that the DPWH had spent more than P1 trillion on flood management over 15 years, equivalent to about P350 million a day, yet flooding remained a recurring problem.
The senator has also raised concerns over alleged irregularities in flood control projects.
Through privilege speeches and hearings of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Lacson has cited alleged anomalous projects in Bulacan and Oriental Mindoro.
Lacson and his staff also uncovered what they described as anomalous slope protection projects and illegal reclamation activities in Taguig City.
Evidence related to those findings has been submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman, according to Lacson.
The senator’s latest remarks come as authorities continue to deal with flooding caused by heavy rains, renewing questions about the implementation and effectiveness of the government’s multibillion-peso flood control program.
Photo from Inquirer.net
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