DBM denies ‘irresponsible, misleading’ claim on P332-B flood scam

House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) denied on Thursday any P332-billion flood control projects scam as alleged by some lawmakers.

House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya claimed during a hearing in Naga City of “non-existent” flood control projects.

The projects allegedly comprised P213 billion worth of appropriations in 2017 and 2018 and the proposed allocation of P119 billion for 2019.

“The DBM believes that citing these amounts to present a picture of a ‘flood control scam’ facilitated by the DBM is irresponsible and misleading,” the DBM said in a statement.

DBM said, “The amount representing the proposed allocation for FY 2019 cannot be accounted for yet.”

“There are no existing projects for 2019 as the 2019 budget has yet to be legislated, much less implemented,” it said.

The agency cited that the funds allocated in 2017 and 2018 GAA “were reviewed, amended, and approved by both Houses of Congress before approval of the President.”

“The DBM would also like to refute claims that it has allocated funds with preferential treatment to certain areas or districts,” it said.

The DBM said it “has no hand in determining the projects that should be implemented and in which areas or districts.”

This is the job of the implementing agency, in this case, the DPWH, it added.

There are technical requirements set by the DPWH that need to be satisfied for projects to be considered for inclusion in their project listing, it said.

In the case of flood control works, DBM said the requirements are listed in DPWH Department Order No. 23, s. of 2015.

“Even then, the DBM is not privy to the specific project listing for the projects under each program and region during budget preparation,” it said.

“The agency budget proposal submitted by the DPWH will only present their target allocation for the upcoming fiscal year by program (i.e. roads, bridges) and total allocation per region. The DBM evaluates each program based on the program’s budget utilization rates in previous years,” it added. /cbb