The Philippine government has proposed a dramatic increase in funding for flood control projects in 2027 as the country continues to deal with severe flooding and a major corruption scandal involving infrastructure spending.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is seeking congressional approval for P107.4 billion ($1.8 billion) for flood mitigation next year, compared with just P2.49 billion allocated for the programme in 2026. The proposed increase amounts to about 4,200 per cent.
The request follows widespread flooding this year that caused serious damage in several parts of the country. At the same time, the government has been dealing with allegations of substandard and so-called ghost flood control projects, raising questions about how billions of pesos in public money were spent.
Marcos did not approve new flood control projects in 2026 as his administration faced repeated revelations over alleged irregularities. The president has also faced allegations that he received at least P1 billion in kickbacks from a former legislator, claims that have been part of the wider corruption controversy.
Presenting the proposed budget to the House of Representatives, Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon said P83.84 billion would be allocated to local flood mitigation programmes. Another P19 billion would support ongoing flood control projects financed with foreign assistance.
Dizon, who was appointed after the scandal emerged in 2025, said the government would introduce tighter controls to prevent fraud and misuse of public funds.
Under the proposed system, flood control projects would face stricter technical and documentary checks before receiving approval. Requirements would include complete programmes of work, verified geo-tagged photographs showing project locations, feasibility studies or equivalent local plans, and a Certificate of Implementability.
Projects would also have to comply with a national flood control master plan and demonstrate that they do not duplicate existing schemes or face unresolved problems such as land acquisition disputes.
Dizon acknowledged that the new requirements could slow implementation. He argued, however, that stronger safeguards were necessary to ensure public money was spent only on projects that were properly prepared and capable of being implemented.
Lawmakers also called for greater involvement from communities. Legislator Romeo Momo Sr urged the department to consult local officials and residents before construction begins, including explaining a project’s purpose, scope and expected impact.
Opposition lawmakers remained sceptical of the government’s plans. Members of the Makabayan Coalition, including Antonio Tinio, Sarah Elago and Renee Co, warned that restoring large-scale infrastructure funding could create fresh opportunities for corruption and political patronage.
They argued that the proposed spending could become a source of misuse at a time when the country is still dealing with allegations surrounding previous flood control programmes.
The government now faces the challenge of expanding flood protection while convincing lawmakers and the public that the much larger budget will be managed transparently.
