Sen. Imee R. Marcos (File photo from Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Imee Marcos on Wednesday demanded a full accounting of the P132 billion Bicol flood control budget following the widespread flooding in the region due to Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.
In a statement on Wednesday, Marcos said it is unacceptable that a whopping P132 billion was allocated to Bicol specifically for flood control projects and yet, “communities remain inundated, and families are suffering.”
This prompted her to emphasize the need for transparency on where these funds went.
The Bicol region is one of the hardest-hit areas by Kristine.
“According to the 2024 General Appropriations Act, Bicol received P31.94 billion this year alone, bringing the six-year total to nearly P133 billion,” said Marcos.
“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,” the senator noted.
She called on government agencies concerned, particularly the Department of Public Works and Highways, to “provide a full accounting of the funds and progress of these projects.”
Marcos said she supports a “thorough investigation into the budget’s use,” set for discussion in the November budget hearings.
Sen. Joel Villanueva, in a separate interview earlier this month, likewise vowed to scrutinize the funding for Bicol’s flood control programs.