MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has been allocated P2.49 billion for flood control-related projects under the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026.
As approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate, the P2.49 billion was earmarked for flood control and drainage systems, structures and other related facilities to be implemented in the 18 regions in the country.
For this year, each of the 18 regions, including the National Capital Region, Cordillera Administrative Region and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), got P100 million worth of flood control-related allocation.
Meanwhile, P690 million was also allocated for the nationwide flood control-related projects covering the Flood Control and Sabo Engineering Center (P10 million); Camanava/Valenzuela-Obando-Meycauayan flood control structures (P50 million); Manggahan flood control structures (P50 million); Agno flood control structures (P50 million); Iloilo flood control structures (P50 million) and Lower Agusan flood control structures (P50 million).
Also allocated were Laoag River Basin flood control structures worth P50 million; Post-Ondoy and Pepeng Short Term Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project (P30 million); Pinatubo Hazard Urgent Mitigation Project structures (P30 million); Esteros Improvement/ Maintenance in NCR (P50 million); Third River flood control structures (P30 million); Manila Bay Rehabilitation based on Supreme Court Mandamus order (P30 million); Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project structures (P50 million); Pampanga Delta Development Project structures (P30 million); Flood Risk Management Project structures for Cagayan River, Tagoloan River and Imus River (P30 million) and Desilting, Dredging and Cleaning of Waterways (P100 million).
The proposed P529-billion 2026 budget of the DPWH did not include funding for new flood control projects amid an ongoing investigation into alleged anomalous government flood control projects that turned out to be a supposed kickback scheme among government officials.
The ratified bicam panel report of the House and the Senate reduced the DPWH budget from P880 billion to P529 billion.
Meanwhile, the DPWH got P8.5 billion worth of funding for routine maintenance of national roads.
Region 8, or Eastern Visayas, got the biggest allocation for maintenance of national roads under its jurisdiction, with P704.9 million out of the P8.5 billion.
Eastern Visayas covers the provinces of Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar and Southern Leyte.
Ranking second is Region 11 or Davao Region with P604 million, followed by the Negros Island Region with around P579 million.
The rest of the regions got the following allocations: Region 4A or Calabarzon with P562 million; Region 5 or Bicol with P532.4 million; Region 6 or Western Visayas with P526 million; Region 7 or Central Visayas with P523 million; Region 1 or Ilocos with P524.5 million; Region 3 or Central Luzon with around P502.9 million; Region 10 or Northern Mindanao with around P461 million.
Region 13 or Caraga with around P440.3 million; Region 12 or Soccsksargen with P430.4 million; Cordillera Administrative Region with P423 million; Region 2 or Cagayan with P376 million; National Capital Region with P375 million; Region 9 or Zamboanga Peninsula with P372.8 million; Region 4B or Mimaropa with P366 million and BARMM with P172.3 million.
These are on top of the P25-million budget for the routine maintenance of newly converted national roads.
The ratified 2026 General Appropriations Act was received by the executive branch on Dec. 29 and is currently under thorough review by President Marcos and his team. It has yet to be signed by the President.