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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PBBM is right, funnel flood control funds to poverty alleviation--Erwin Tulfo

PBBM is right, funnel flood control funds to poverty alleviation--Erwin Tulfo

Published Sep 28, 2025 03:00 pm

At A Glance

  • Senator Erwin Tulfo agrees with President Marcos' suggestion to reallocate P36 billion originally intended as flood control funds to the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) poverty alleviation programs.
Senator Erwin Tulfo (left), President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (Facebook)
Senator Erwin Tulfo (left), President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (Facebook)


Senator Erwin Tulfo agrees with President Marcos' suggestion to reallocate P36 billion originally intended as flood control funds to the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) poverty alleviation programs.
“Instead of DPWH officials, contractors, and politicians pocketing these public funds, I would rather have it allocated for the poor and marginalized,” Senator Tulfo said in a interview over the weekend.
“If the funds are with DSWD, it will go directly to the people and not go through the hands of politicians, or even DPWH officials and contractors,” said the lawmaker who also served as DSWD secretary under the Marcos administration.
Tulfo--who is among those outraged by the massive corruption linked to anomalous flood control projects of the government--reckoned that the money must be used to help Filipinos who are poverty-stricken and in dire need of livelihood assistance.
President Marcos earlier announced that the flood control funds will be redirected to DSWD Poverty Alleviation programs such as (Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation) AICS and Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), among others.
AICS is a program of the DSWD intended to support the poor and disenfranchised Filipinos when it comes to their emergency need for medicine, hospital, burial, and transportation assistance.
Meanwhile, SLP provides P15,000 to communities so they can establish their own income-generating enterprises. This program is being proposed by Tulfo to be institutionalized through Senate Bill No. 766.
“I believe if many Filipinos who are in dire need of livelihood assistance will be given SLP by the DSWD, it would be a great start for them to finally reach their goal to have their own enterprise and eventually contribute to the economy,” the senator underscored.
“I think it will be a money well-spent if the DSWD will be able to provide business capital for Filipinos in need,” added Tulfo, chairman of the Senate Committee on Social justice, Welfare, and Rural Development.
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