Several flood control projects funded through congressional insertions were not subjected to its standard planning and technical review, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) disclosed on Thursday, July 31. 

DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said these projects typically appear only during the final approval of the General Appropriations Act (GAA), bypassing the agency’s validation process.

“That will be the first time we will be seeing these projects once they are already included in the General Appropriations Act,” Bonoan said in a radio interview, noting that the agency is not part of the bicameral conference committee where insertions are finalized.

Despite the lack of feasibility studies or engineering designs, the DPWH is still tasked to implement these projects, many of which face delays due to the absence of preparatory work.

“We are also the ones implementing them, but it will take some time to conduct assessments and validations,” he added.

Bonoan emphasized that only projects included in the executive branch’s National Expenditure Program (NEP) undergo the department’s technical vetting and monitoring process.

He noted that insertions made outside the NEP are not subject to the same scrutiny and may lead to delays, especially when projects face right-of-way issues or affect existing communities.

“These new items did not initially pass through our validation process,” Bonoan said, underscoring the need for further review and coordination.

He also revealed that the department’s funding for project preparation and engineering activities has been significantly reduced, further affecting implementation timelines.

In December, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vetoed P16.72 billion worth of flood control projects from the proposed 2025 budget, citing the lack of prior evaluation and reaffirming that only NEP-approved items would be supported.

As part of the President’s directive, the DPWH is conducting a nationwide audit of completed and ongoing flood control projects to ensure transparency and proper use of public funds.

Concerns over unvetted projects have long been raised by auditors and watchdog groups, particularly with persistent delays in foreign-assisted flood control efforts in areas such as Metro Manila, Cavite, and Cagayan de Oro.

Bonoan said the agency remains committed to addressing flooding challenges, stressing that transparency, technical planning, and sufficient funding are essential to delivering effective infrastructure.