The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan on Friday demanded accountability from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) over what he called questionable priorities in its proposed 2026 budget.
During the House Committee on Appropriations’ budget deliberations, Libanan warned that poor planning and irrational allocations fuel ghost and substandard projects that damage not only the agency’s credibility but also the reputation of Congress.
“What is your basis for identifying projects?” Libanan asked DPWH officials, led by newly appointed Secretary Vince Dizon. “We can only succeed if planning is done properly.”
Under the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted by Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, at least P250.8 billion—nearly a third of DPWH’s funds—is earmarked for flood control projects.
Libanan questioned the wisdom of such massive spending, pointing out that despite years of allocations, floodwaters persist across the country. “A huge fund is allocated for flood control, but the floods remain,” he lamented.
Citing government geohazard maps, Libanan noted that many of the most flood-prone provinces—including Cagayan, Pampanga, Maguindanao, Isabela, Pangasinan, and Leyte—remain underserved. Meanwhile, 12 provinces not on the top-20 flood-prone list received significant funding for flood control.
The Minority Leader also flagged alleged discrepancies in Eastern Samar, his home province, where billions of pesos were poured into projects outside identified hazard zones. He cited typhoon-battered Pacific towns that still lack seawalls while funds are channeled into river control elsewhere.
“Misplaced priorities worsen the impact of natural disasters,” Libanan said, stressingR that disaster-prone areas must be given top priority. He warned that every peso misallocated translates to lives lost and livelihoods destroyed.
Libanan further decried “suspicious” accomplishment reports from contractors and local DPWH offices, saying unchecked declarations open the door for ghost projects to thrive under the guise of bureaucracy.
He emphasized that the integrity of the budget process depends on accurate needs assessment, transparent allocation, and strict monitoring. Otherwise, he warned, public trust in government spending will continue to erode.