SEN. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson questioned the effectiveness of the government’s flood control efforts, saying that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) spent P1.939 trillion on its flood control management program from 2011 to 2025, yet floods remain uncontrolled.
Lacson made the statement as heavy monsoon rains caused widespread flooding and disrupted activities in several parts of the country, including Metro Manila.
“FLOOD CONTROL VS UNCONTROLLED FLOOD: P1.939 trillion funded the DPWH flood control management program under three presidents from 2011-2025 and the result is uncontrolled flood,” Lacson said in a social media pos
Lacson cited historical data on DPWH flood management spending under the Aquino, Duterte and Marcos administrations from 2011 to 2025, with annual funding for flood management breaching the P100-billion mark in 2018.
The figures in Lacson’s chart showed annual allocations rising from P11.3 billion in 2011 to P139 billion in 2018, and P145.6 billion in 2022.
The amount jumped to P287 billion in 2023, P346.8 billion in 2024, and P372.8 billion in 2025.
The chart included flood management, local programs, foreign-assisted projects, Sustainable Infrastructure Projects Alleviating Gaps, and the Basic Infrastructure Program, and noted that the fiscal year 2025 figure was net of feasibility studies.
Lacson observed that while the DPWH spent more than P1 trillion for flood management for the past 15 years the problem still persists.
The senator earlier exposed anomalous flood control projects in Bulacan and Mindoro Oriental through privilege speeches and Blue Ribbon Committee hearings.
He also uncovered several anomalous slope protection projects and alleged illegal reclamation activities in Taguig City, and have turned over the related evidence to the Office of the Ombudsman.
Meanwhile, Lacson said without a master plan or clear direction for its flood control program, the government risks wasting more taxpayers’ money, including the P107.4 billion earmarked for flood control under the proposed 2027 budget.
The senator said he will raise this issue at the Development Budget Coordinating Committee briefing, which is scheduled to start on Aug. 27.
“Are we following a flood management program? If not, we are just wasting money because we have no direction,” Lacson said in a radio interview.
“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?” he added.
