Politics · Philippines Bureau
Lacson warns of flood control budget waste without long-term strategy
A senior Philippine senator has raised concerns about the government's proposed P107.4-billion flood control allocation for 2027, arguing that billions of pesos risk being squandered without a comprehensive, long-term spending plan.
LSN Philippines ·
Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson has called for closer examination of the administration's massive flood control budget proposal, citing the need for strategic oversight to prevent wasteful expenditure on infrastructure projects.
The proposed P107.4-billion allocation for flood control in the 2027 national budget requires rigorous scrutiny, Lacson said, noting that substantial government funds have already been committed to related projects without producing commensurate results.
Lacson also flagged concerns about the distribution of regional flood control funds, pointing to a uniform P180-million allocation across regions as potentially problematic. The uniform distribution approach fails to account for varying geographic risk profiles and infrastructure needs across different parts of the country, he argued.
The senator's remarks underscore ongoing debates in Congress over the efficiency of public spending on disaster mitigation and water management infrastructure, critical issues for a nation frequently affected by typhoons and flooding. Without clear programmatic guidelines and performance metrics, Lacson warned, the large budgetary commitment risks becoming another source of fiscal inefficiency.