MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Imee Marcos sought accountability for the ₱132 billion flood control funds that have been allotted since 2018 for the Bicol provinces amid heavy flooding in the region during the wrath of Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine.”
The public “deserves transparency” on where these funds went, the senator said in a statement on Tuesday.
“It’s unacceptable that ₱132 billion has been designated for Bicol flood control projects, yet communities remain inundated, and families are suffering,” Marcos said.
She said the 2024 General Appropriations Act showed that the Bicol region alone received ₱31.94 billion this year, “totaling nearly ₱133 billion for flood control efforts over the past six years.”
Despite these allocations, she said “Kristine” has left the region devastated, with flooding at critical levels and inadequate infrastructure to protect affected areas.
Marcos called on concerned agencies, particularly the Department of Public Works and Highways, to report on the progress of these flood control projects for accountability.
She also backed calls for a review of the flood control budget during the Senate deliberation in November of the proposed P6.352 trillion 2025 national budget.
“For the 2025 national budget, we need effective, well-engineered solutions that genuinely address climate-related threats—not outdated responses that continue to put lives, homes, and livelihoods at risk,” Marcos said.
