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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Binabaha ba?': Erwin Tulfo questions flood control budget in areas not prone to flooding

'Binabaha ba?': Erwin Tulfo questions flood control budget in areas not prone to flooding

Published Aug 19, 2025 05:15 pm

At A Glance

  • Senator Erwin Tulfo questioned why numerous flood control projects were allocated to provinces not among the country's most flood-prone areas, pressing the DPWH, DBM, and COA on planning, fund releases, and oversight.

Senator Erwin Tulfo on Tuesday, August 19 pressed government officials to explain numerous flood control projects poured into provinces that are not even among the country’s most flood-prone areas.

Senator Erwin Tulfo (John Louie Abrina)
Senator Erwin Tulfo (John Louie Abrina)

Citing a list released by President Marcos, Tulfo noted that Cebu received 414 flood control projects, Isabela with 341, Albay with 273, Leyte with 262, and Camarines Sur with 252. 

However, he pointed out that none of these provinces were in the top 10 flood-prone areas, which include Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Maguindanao, North Cotabato, Oriental Mindoro, and Ilocos Norte.

“Napakalaki naman ng pondo at saka napakaraming flood control projects ng mga lugar na ito. Binabaha ba? Bakit tayo magpupondo rin sa lugar na ito kung hindi naman po binabaha? It’s a waste of money, Mr. Secretary. Waste of time also,” Tulfo told Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing.

Bonoan agreed with Tulfo's observation and explained that allocations for flood control and other infrastructure are equitably distributed per engineering district, with 70 percent devoted to DPWH’s core programs, including national roads, bridges, and flood control projects. He admitted, however, that many projects are added after Congress passes the General Appropriations Act.

Tulfo then turned to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), questioning whether the agency simply releases funds without reviewing the necessity of the projects.

DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman clarified that the department only releases funds based on the line items approved under the General Appropriations Act. 

“Kung ano po ang nakalagay sa GAA, yun po ang inire-release natin. Naka-line item po lahat ng mga projects (What is stated in the General Appropriations Act, that is what we release. All the projects are itemized. Each project is listed),” she said.

Pressed further by Tulfo if the DBM could at least flag questionable projects, Pangandaman replied: “Wala po kaming tao na kayang mag-check isa-isa nung mga projects na pinopropose ng DPWH (We don't have the personnel to check one by one the projects being proposed by the DPWH).” 

Asked by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta whether the DBM has the mandate to do so, she also admitted: “Wala din po eh (We don't have either).”

The senator also asked the Commission on Audit (COA) whether it could track contractors with repeated adverse audit findings who continue to receive new projects. COA Director Tracy Ann Sunico responded that the commission is building a database of blacklisted and erring contractors covering 2022 to 2024, though final data would still come from the DBM.

Related Tags

Flood control Erwin Tulfo rodante marcoleta Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
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