In a decisive move to combat corruption and ensure fiscal responsibility, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has placed flood control initiatives at the forefront of his administration's integrity drive. Emphasizing transparency and strict accountability, the President has taken unexpected actions in the latter part of 2025 to address longstanding issues in public infrastructure spending.
Scrutiny Over Substandard Projects
President Marcos has dedicated significant time to personally examining areas with substandard or completely non-existent flood control projects. This hands-on approach includes closely monitoring the ongoing investigations into what has been termed the "flood control mess." The administration is ensuring that all personnel implicated in the controversy are held fully accountable for their roles.
The President has repeatedly stressed the critical importance of fiscal discipline and project integrity. He has explained that public funds must be used correctly and efficiently, primarily to protect vulnerable communities from the devastating impacts of flooding, which frequently plague many parts of the nation.
A Major Budgetary Decision
One of the most significant policy decisions to emerge from this crackdown is the suspension of new flood control allocations in the proposed 2026 national budget. This bold step was announced by President Marcos during the fourth episode of his podcast on September 8.
He directed government agencies to ensure the complete and proper utilization of the existing P350 billion allocated from the 2025 budget before any new funding is considered. "We already are seeing that all the flood control projects that should be placed in the 2026 budget, perhaps are no longer needed. So, there will be no budget for 2026 for flood control because there is already P350 billion for 2025 that has not been completely exhausted," President Marcos stated.
Ensuring Oversight and Transparency
This landmark decision follows revelations that numerous flood control projects funded under the 2025 budget have not been spent, are delayed, or remain unfinished. In response, President Marcos has mandated strict oversight and monitoring procedures. The directive aims to prevent the allocation of additional funds until the current massive budget is accounted for and properly deployed.
The move signals a tougher stance on governance and the anti-corruption campaign of the Marcos administration, turning flood control into a key test case for project transparency and the responsible use of public money.
