Eastern Visayas Media Without Borders
by Miriam G. Desacada
TACLOBAN CITY–House Minority Floor Leader Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan (4Ps Partylist) has raised caution over the planned allotment of P250.8 billion for flood control that would be included in the proposed 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted to the House.
Libanan warned the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to scrutinize further its suggested P250.8-billion allocation for flood control, and ensure that it will be poured into the identified most vulnerable provinces instead of those that are not.
The legislator from Eastern Samar, during the House appropriations panel deliberations on the proposed DPWH budget, posed this question: “How can we spend billions on flood control but ignore the most flooded provinces?”
He urged the DPWH, now under its new leadership, Secretary Vince Dizon, to look deeper into its proposed flood control allocation so that it will not miss the hardest-hit provinces. The flood control allocation is nearly one-third of the agency’s P880-billion total budget proposal for next year.
Libanan noted that, under the proposed 2026 budget, 12 of the country’s 20 most flood-prone provinces are not adequately covered under DPWH’s flood control allocation.
Based on official government mapping, these provinces are: Maguindanao, Cagayan, Pangasinan, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Palawan, Pampanga, Agusan del Sur, Zamboanga del Sur, Iloilo, North Cotabato, Leyte, Bulacan, Northern Samar, Tarlac, Capiz, Zambales, Davao del Norte, Camarines Sur, and Western Samar.
“These provinces are identified by the government’s own geohazard mapping and assessment. How can we spend billions on flood control yet leave out these provinces that are often underwater?” Libanan asked.
Libanan also questioned the placement of certain DPWH projects in his home province of Eastern Samar, pointing to a ₱3-billion rock netting project in San Rafael, Taft—despite the area having no history of landslides because of its hard rock formations.
He similarly expressed surprise that flood control projects have suddenly emerged this year in the towns of Hernani and Llorente in Eastern Samar, apparently funded under the 2024 budget.
“What we’re seeing is that major project accomplishments are being reported when, in truth, work has only just begun. This sets the stage for so-called ‘ghost projects’—where high accomplishments are declared, payments are collected in full, yet little to no actual work is done,” Libanan said.
He also lamented that coastal towns facing the Pacific Ocean, which suffer repeated damage from super-typhoons, have not been prioritized for seawalls. “Funds are still funneled to riverbank controls instead of protecting vulnerable coastal communities. This imbalance must be corrected,” he added.
DPWH Secretary Dizon acknowledged Libanan’s concerns and committed to a science-based review of flood control allocations.
Libanan, in response to Dizon’s commitment, said: “We are hopeful that under Secretary Dizon’s stewardship, DPWH can put order and reason into project planning. Proper planning and accountability are the only ways we can win the fight against flooding.”
He also pointed out funds to be set aside for the rehabilitation of major national roads, such as the Maharlika Highway, and for the construction of new crossings, such as the Sorsogon-Northern Samar Bridge.” —Miriam G. Desacada
