Some senators on Friday, October 25 expressed plans to question key government agencies on their respective budget allocation for flood control projects.
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero disclosed his plan while noting how several areas in the country are still submerged in water due to tropical storm Kristine’s onslaught.
“I expect that this will be brought up during the budget deliberations of DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways), DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources), DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government), DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), DND /OCD (Department of National Defense/Office of Civil Defense),” Escudero said.
The Senate is set to begin deliberations on the proposed P6.352-trillion national budget for 2025 on November 4, 2024.
“Moving forward, however, we will not only exact accoubtability but also make sure that the 2025 budget will provide preventive measures to avoid a recurrence as well as adequate rehabilitation and response in case of a similar calamity in the future,” Escudero said.
Sen. Joel Villanueva noted that Bicol Region alone has a combined P61.42-billion budget for flood control, for 2023 and 2024.
P31.9-billion of the DPWH’s budget is allocated for the flood control of the Bicol Region. Bicol province was the hardest hit by “Kristine.”
“So ito dapat tignan nating mabuti sa budget deliberations kung saan ba talaga napupunta ito. May impact ba talaga itong ginagawang flood control projects and programs ng ating pamahalaan (So we really need to scrutinize this during the budget deliberations and see where these funds are going. Does the government’s flood control projects and programs really making an impact)?” Villanueva pointed out in an interview over Zoom.
Villanueva stressed the importance of providing adequate funding for flood control programs noting how all parts of the country were affected by the recent storm.
“Very concerning yung na hindi lang, I mean, all parts of the country are now affected,” he said.
“Makikita natin doon, klarong-klaro na hindi na po uubra yung mga (You can really see that, clearly it’s not enough to provide) band-aid solutions and itong mga (these) relief operations which we always think of as a solution are no longer enough,” he said.
On Thursday, the House of Representatives submitted its version of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for 2025 to the Senate.