DBM won’t fund flood control projects lacking requirements – Palace

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

FILE: Areas in Ermita, Manila flooded anew after a brief thunderstorm Sunday afternoon (Aug. 24, 2025), including busy Pedro Gil Street, where a university and a mall are located.

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(PNA photo by Avito Dalan)

MANILA – The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will not release funds for flood control projects that lack the required documentation, Malacañang said Friday.

This, after House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno called for an investigation into the “funders” or sponsors of anomalous and non-existent construction projects in the 2025 national budget, as well as the role of the DBM in the release and withholding of funds.

“Pinag-aaralan po ng DBM kung paano at kailan iri-release ang pondo (The DBM is studying how and when the funds will be released),” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing.

“Kung ito naman po ay walang SARO [Special Allotment Release Order] at hindi mapapatunayan ang mga requirements na na-comply ay hindi po maglalabas ng pondo ang DBM (If there is no SARO and if the requirements cannot be proven to have been complied with, the DBM will not release the funds),” she added.

Castro, nevertheless, said the Palace respects the legislative process, saying it is the lawmakers’ job to investigate anomalous projects.

“Trabaho naman po nilang mag-imbestiga so hindi po natin hahadlangan iyan (It’s their job to investigate, so we will not hinder that),” she said.

Castro also emphasized President Ferdinand R.

Marcos Jr.’s call for a collective effort to combat corruption.

Marcos’ appeal for cooperation comes amid ongoing efforts to improve transparency and accountability in public service, particularly in projects related to flood control and other government initiatives, Castro said.

“’Yun naman din po talaga ang naisin ng Pangulong Marcos Jr. na lahat-lahat po tayo ay magtulungan upang masawata itong mga korapsiyon na ito. At hindi lamang po ang gobyerno, ang pamahalaan ang dapat kumilos kung hindi ang taumbayan na nakakaalam ng mga nangyayari sa paligid nila (That is also exactly what President Marcos Jr. wants – that all of us work together to stop these acts of corruption. It’s not only the government’s responsibility to take action, but also the people who are aware of what’s happening around them),” she said.

“So, mas maganda po talagang isumbong nila sa Pangulo itong mga ganitong klaseng insidente at kondisyon (So, it’s really best for them to report these kinds of incidents and conditions directly to the President),” Castro added.