Senate President Chiz Escudero seeks cut in DPWH flood control budget over corruption fears

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero proposed a significant reduction in the Department of Public Works and Highways' (DPWH) P250.8-billion flood control budget for the upcoming year, citing concerns about potential corruption.

Escudero highlighted that the flood control budget constitutes one-third of the DPWH's total budget and significantly surpasses allocations for other crucial sectors.

He pointed out that the flood control budget is twenty times larger than the budget for new school buildings, which is only P13 billion.

Furthermore, he noted that the flood control budget is considerably larger than the funds allocated for new roads and five times greater than the budget for constructing new bridges.

Escudero expressed apprehension that the current budget, if unchanged, would invite substantial criticism.

He suggested that the country should await the flood control master plan, which is being funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Escudero recommended that the funds instead be redirected towards vital sectors such as health, education, and food security.