After flood-control freeze, Senate panel eyes funds to finish abandoned works
The Philippine Senate finance committee plans to restore funding for unfinished flood-control projects in the 2027 budget while maintaining a ban on new projects. This decision follows a corruption scandal and recent severe flooding that highlighted the risks of leaving infrastructure incomplete.
Why it matters
The policy shift reflects the tension between fiscal responsibility, anti-corruption efforts, and the urgent need for climate-resilient infrastructure.
MANILA, Philippines - A year after flood-control spending was frozen in response to a massive corruption scandal, the powerful Senate finance committee is backing its return in the 2027 budget, but only to finish projects already underway.
The approach would keep the door shut on new flood-control projects while restoring money for unfinished works. Committee chair JV Ejercito said the blanket freeze left gaps exposed by the recent widespread flooding in Central Luzon and Metro Manila.
Speaking at a Senate briefing Tuesday, September 1, Ejercito said his committee would maintain its position against funding new flood-control projects under the proposed P7.2-trillion national budget.
"I think we have to resume, but only the uncompleted projects. We should finish the flood-control projects that were not completed... There will be no new flood-control projects," Ejercito said in Filipino.
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