Senator Erwin Tulfo vowed to push for an investigation into flood control projects and insisted that the implementation should be handled exclusively by the national government through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), not by politicians.

“I will make sure there will be an investigation on this,” Tulfo said in an interview on Wednesday, July 23, in Quezon City.

“Hindi lang investigation, kundi na make sure na national government ang mag implement ng flood control, hindi politiko. Hindi si congressman, hindi si senador, kundi ang public works and highways, the national government,” he added.

(And not just an investigation, but I will make sure that flood control is implemented by the national government—not by congressmen, not by senators, but by DPWH and the national government).

When asked about lawmakers already intervening in allotments during budget deliberations, Tulfo, who has claimed to belong to the majority bloc, did not hold back.

“Ako po, nasa majority. Pero I'll be the first one to say, no, stop. Huwag natin pakialaman yung flood control na yan. Leave it to DPWH. Ngayon, kung meron kayong mga pork barrel dyan, i-donate nyo na lahat sa DPWH. Anong kinalaman ng senador, kongresista? Kaya, no, wrong, mali yon,” he said.

(I’m in the majority, but I’ll be the first one to say, no, stop. Let’s not interfere with flood control. Leave it to DPWH. Now, if you have pork barrel funds, donate them all to DPWH. What business does a senator or congressman have meddling in flood control? None. That’s wrong).

With the 20th Congress about to open, Tulfo was asked if he would consider close coordination with DPWH on the issue. He responded that what he wants is for the DPWH to do their job and have the budget given to them so there's no finger-pointing later.

He also disclosed that President Marcos had put on hold many flood control projects because he saw problems in them.

"You can ask Malacañang—I know this. DBM (Department of Budget and Management) told me the President ordered the hold. And I said 'Good'. What right do senators or congressmen have over flood control? None,” he added.

As the discussion turned to potential budget insertions during bicameral conferences,

Tulfo reiterated his stance that he would object to potential budget insertions even during the bicameral conferences.

"I will say no. This has to stop,” he said.

The senator stressed that politicians should no longer be given rein over flood control funds.

“Don’t let politicians handle flood control. The flood control budget just ends up in their pockets. That’s why the President put everything on hold under FLR, or ‘for later release,’" he said.

"I’ve seen flood control projects worth hundreds of millions where they’re just cleaning a river. That’s not flood control. What’s flood control about that?” he added.

Tulfo was in Quezon City to deliver aid in the form of hot meals and rice to more than 4,000 typhoon-stricken residents of Barangay Tatalon.