Sen. Imee Marcos demands full accountability for P132B Bicol flood control project

Sen. Imee R. Marcos slammed the continued severe flooding in Bicol, despite an enormous P132 billion allocated since 2018 for flood control in the region.

"It's unacceptable that P132 billion has been designated for Bicol flood control projects, yet communities remain inundated, and families are suffering. The public deserves transparency on where these funds went," Marcos stated.

According to the 2024 General Appropriations Act, Bicol received P31.94 billion this year alone, bringing the six-year total to nearly P133 billion. Of this amount, over P86.6 billion was allocated in just the past two years, yet Typhoon Kristine has once again left the region in crisis, exposing inadequate infrastructure and critical gaps in flood mitigation.

Sen. Marcos is demanding that government agencies, particularly the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), provide a full accounting of the funds and progress of these projects. She supports a thorough investigation into the budget's use, set for discussion in the November budget hearings.

"For the 2025 budget, we need concrete, well-engineered solutions that effectively address climate threats – not outdated projects that risk lives, homes, and livelihoods," she emphasized.

Meanwhile, recent statements by House Committee on Appropriations chairperson and Ako-Bicol Party List Rep. Elizaldy Co dismissed claims of billion-peso allocations for Bicol, emphasizing a tighter infrastructure strategy. Co credited Speaker Martin Romualdez's Congress for supposedly curbing unnecessary flood control expenditures. Marcos, however, questions these assertions, urging a deeper investigation into the use of public funds.

"It's clear that these supposed 'meaningful projects' are not reaching the communities that need them most. We need accountability, not just rhetoric," Marcos emphasized, hinting at gaps in the administration's strategy. The senator backs a full audit in the upcoming budget hearings to address these inconsistencies and misaligned priorities.