Escudero vows proper use of flood control budget

SENATE President Francis Escudero said on Friday, October 25, that the upper chamber would ensure that the budget for flood-control projects will be spent on measures to mitigate flooding.

«We begin budget deliberations when we resume on November 4. I expect this will be brought up during the discussions on the allocations for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Department of National Defense/Office of Civil Defense (DND/OCD),» said Escudero in a text message.

Under the proposal submitted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), more than a quarter of a trillion pesos will be allocated for flood control in the 2025 budget.

Based on the National Expenditure Program (NEP), the water resources development and flood control subsector has been allocated P257.06 billion. This funding is primarily attributed to the DPWH Flood Management Program, which receives P254.29 billion. The program aims to construct and maintain flood mitigation structures and drainage systems.

DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan has reaffirmed the agency's commitment to providing long-term solutions for the persistent flooding many Filipinos face.

Bonoan shared that the DPWH has created master plans for each of the 18 major river basins in the Philippines. These plans address the increasing frequency and intensity of rainfall linked to climate change.

Each master plan is area-specific to ensure more efficient and targeted management of flood risks.

«While there is no single nationwide master plan for flood control, our decentralized strategy allows us to customize solutions for each major river basin, considering their unique geographical, hydrological, and environmental conditions,» said the DPWH head.

On Thursday, October 24, the House of Representatives transmitted to the Senate House Bill 10800, or the General Appropriations Bill (GAB), containing the proposed P6.352-trillion national budget for 2025.

The House of Representatives approved the proposed P6.352-trillion national budget for 2025