P15.7 billion earmarked for foreign-assisted flood control projects – DBM

MANILA, Philippines — The government still has nearly P16 billion in funding for flood control, but the amount is earmarked solely for foreign-assisted projects with existing contracts that must be implemented in accordance with their approved loan agreements, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said.

Following the signing of the 2026 national budget, DBM acting Secretary Rolando Toledo said the allocation covers flood control projects such as the resilience project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which is funded through a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

“We still have a budget for flood control, but it is specifically for foreign-assisted projects only, amounting to around P15.7 billion, because there are already existing contracts that must be followed and the projects implemented according to their approved plans,” he said.

Based on the National Expenditure Program, flood control infrastructure was initially set to receive P71.7 billion.

However, President Marcos announced last September that the 2026 national budget would no longer include new allocations for flood control projects, noting that previous funds remained largely unspent.

The DPWH budget, meanwhile, decreased to around P530 billion in the 2026 General Appropriations Act, down from P881 billion under the proposed expenditure program.

No pay hike delay

In a separate statement, the DBM clarified that the 2026 national budget will not delay or cancel salary increases and retirement benefits for teachers, government employees and uniformed personnel, saying the reported P24-billion adjustment is a fund transfer, not a reduction.

Any potential impact would apply only to new hires, depending on how quickly vacant positions are filled.