Village Connect
Senator Bam Aquino is calling for stricter scrutiny of government spending on flood control, saying public funds should be directed toward projects that have demonstrated their ability to protect communities from severe flooding.
Aquino pointed to flood control systems in Marikina and Navotas as examples of infrastructure that should receive proper and sustained government support.
Speaking in an interview with Karen Davila on Headstart, Aquino said the Senate would closely examine more than ₱100 billion in unprogrammed funds under the proposed 2027 national budget, particularly if portions are eventually allocated to flood control initiatives.
According to Aquino, lawmakers need to determine where the money would go and whether the proposed projects address actual flooding problems. He stressed that government spending should prioritize infrastructure that delivers measurable benefits to residents rather than projects distributed without considering local needs.
Aquino said the allocation of flood control projects should also reflect the vulnerability of different congressional districts. Communities regularly affected by heavy rains, overflowing waterways and high tides should receive greater attention when government resources are distributed.
He recalled questioning then-Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan in 2025 over the reported practice of distributing flood control projects equally, including to areas that rarely experience flooding. Aquino argued that such an approach should be reviewed to ensure limited government resources are directed to communities where they are most needed.
Marikina has emerged as one example cited in discussions about effective flood mitigation. Despite experiencing heavy rainfall comparable to levels associated with Typhoon Ondoy, floodwaters reportedly receded quickly in several major roads. Residents have also observed improvements in the city’s flood response compared with the widespread devastation experienced in 2009.
Under Mayor Maan Teodoro, the city has continued efforts to strengthen preparedness and flood mitigation measures.
Navotas, meanwhile, has relied on infrastructure developed through years of investment in flood protection. Projects supported during the tenure of Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco include a navigational gate, coastal dike and a network of pumping stations.
During periods of heavy rainfall and high tide, these facilities help prevent seawater from entering communities while pumping accumulated rainwater away from roads and residential areas.
For Aquino, the experiences of Marikina and Navotas demonstrate why flood control funding must be based on necessity, effectiveness and long-term protection—not simply on equal distribution among districts.
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