Lacson questions P1.9 trillion flood control spending

MANILA, Philippines — Despite nearly P2 trillion poured into government flood control projects since 2011, the country continues to be submerged regularly in floods, Sen. Panfilo Lacson lamented, as heavy monsoon rains paralyzed parts of the country.

In a statement yesterday, Lacson criticized the government’s flood control program, saying that despite P1.939 trillion spent by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) over the past 15 years, the country remains vulnerable to devastating floods.

He noted: “P1.939 trillion funded the DPWH flood control management program under three presidents from 2011-2025, and the result is uncontrolled flood.”

Citing historical spending data under the Aquino, Duterte and Marcos administrations, the senator noted that DPWH flood management allocations grew from P11.323 billion in 2011 to P81.223 billion in 2017 before breaching the P100-billion threshold in 2018 at P139.001 billion.

Annual funding consistently hovered above P116 billion through 2022 before surging to P287.018 billion in 2023, P346.771 billion in 2024 and peaking at P372.814 billion in 2025.

He noted that the multitrillion-peso spending spanned three administrations from 2011 to 2025, equating to roughly P350 million spent per day, yet the problem persists.

Master plan

Lacson warned that without a clear, integrated master plan, the P107.4 billion earmarked for flood control in the proposed 2027 national budget risks being wasted.

He plans to raise the issue during the upcoming Development Budget Coordination Committee briefing.

“Are we following a flood management program? If not, we are just wasting money because we have no direction,” Lacson said. “In the proposed 2027 budget, some P107 billion is earmarked for flood control projects. A good question to ask is, how will it be spent? Are there overall programs for this? If so, where are they?”

Echoing Lacson, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said a master plan is important.

“We really need a master plan because we cannot just wait, we have to do something,” Dizon said at a press briefing yesterday.

He revealed that the government is expected to complete this year an updated flood control master plan containing measures and projects. The original plan was approved during the administration of the late president Benigno Aquino III in 2012.

A unified drainage master plan that would link flood-control systems across city boundaries is also being supervised by the agency, together with the Metro Manila Council, led by San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora.

In an interview with “Storycon” on One News, Zamora said the DPWH has already begun the initial phase of the plan, which would allow water to flow from one city to another without being obstructed.

“Only a master plan will ensure the interconnection of drainage systems,” he said, adding that future national and local flood control projects should be aligned with the plan.

Aside from improving drainage systems, the DPWH is also planning to build water retention basins in Quezon City and other parts of Metro Manila to help mitigate flooding.

Dizon said they are looking at Sitio Kaingin Bukid in Barangay Apolonio Samson in Quezon City, Bustillos in Sampaloc and Rajah Sulayman as possible sites for the basins.

Still flooded

Lacson’s remarks came as some roads in Metro Manila remained flooded early yesterday, a day after torrential rains brought by the southwest monsoon inundated parts of the region.

In Pasig, floodwaters reached 91.44 centimeters, or 36 inches, at the Katipiran Yap Compound in Barangay Dela Paz around 4:30 a.m., making the area impassable to motorcycles and sedans.

Shallower flooding of up to five inches was reported in parts of Barangays Manggahan and Sta. Lucia, although the affected roads remained passable to motorcycles and sedans.

Malabon also reported flooding in 13 areas as of 5 a.m., with water levels ranging from one to eight inches.

The deepest flooding was recorded in Barangay Panghulo at eight inches, while five- to six-inch flooding was reported in Barangays Catmon, Concepcion, Hulong Duhat, San Agustin and Tañong.

In Valenzuela, flooding had largely subsided in several areas by early Tuesday, although one to two inches of surface water remained along D. Bonifacio Avenue in Barangay Canumay East.

Meanwhile, the San Juan River stood at 11.94 meters as of 5:10 a.m. Tuesday.

The Metro Manila Development Authority offered free towing services for vehicles submerged in floodwaters or stranded due to flooding.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, for his part, ordered local chief executives to conduct pre-disaster risk assessments and carry out preemptive or mandatory evacuations of residents in vulnerable communities after the Mines and Geosciences Bureau reported that more than 17,000 barangays are susceptible to floods and rain-induced landslides until today. — Helen Flores, Alexis Romero, Mark Ernest Villeza, Emmanuel Tupas, Rhodina Villanueva, Josiah Antonio

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