Put flood control funds for classrooms instead, Leviste suggests

Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste proposes that funds for flood control projects be redirected to constructing classrooms during a House appropriations committee hearing on Monday, August 19, 2025. — Photo from Lingkod Legarda Levista/Facebook

MANILA, Philippines — Amid concerns over corruption and substandard work in flood control projects, Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste proposed that the over P250 billion allocated for this sector in 2026 be redirected to classroom construction and other pressing needs.

During the initial hearing of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriations on Monday, Leviste said that since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has acknowledged potential corruption in flood control projects, half of the funds could be used to build more classrooms, while the other half could help lower taxes.

The lawmaker, who also serves as vice chairperson of the committee, asked the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) whether it would oppose such adjustments to the National Expenditures Program (NEP).

“The president has indicated that flood control projects are a possible source of corruption, and the 2026 NEP includes over P250 billion in flood control projects — perhaps the other members of the economic team could also comment on this who have worked closely on the preparation of the NEP — so I would just like to ask if, from a fiscal perspective, the economic team has any objection if the house allocates much of this P250 billion plus of flood control projects,” he said.

“Let’s say for the sake of argument P200 billion, to, let’s say half education spending, and half lower taxes, noting that the economic team had also mentioned earlier that we should aim first to lower the deficit to 3 percent,” he added.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said it is up to Congress to decide if flood control funds would be better allocated to the education sector, especially since the executive branch is prioritizing education for 2026.

She added that the DBM would have no objection to the changes, provided the Department of Education (DepEd) can fully utilize the funds that may be realigned.

“Again, I would like to repeat that we, the executive, proposes the budget, and then we leave it to the Congress whether you think it’s wise to cut the flood control project and move it to education.  But we welcome such because again, the theme of our budget for next year will be really to increase our investment and spending in education,” Pangandaman said.

“DepEd has stated that it has the absorptive capacity to deliver more classrooms but that the P13 billion figure is the result of the so-called fiscal space available and therefore I would just like to ask the economic team if there is any objection if the House reallocates the flood control budget to increase the P13 billion that has been allocated to new classroom constructions,” Leviste said.

“As long as the department of education can utilize fully the added allocation for the construction of classrooms, that will be okay,” Pangandaman replied.

Leviste, a longtime advocate for funding the education sector, filed a bill last July that aims to provide Filipino students from kindergarten to college, regardless of socioeconomic status, with a P1,000 monthly cash allowance.

He said House Bill No. 27, if enacted, would help students cover food, transportation, and other educational expenses, while also encouraging attendance, as class participation would be a key factor in receiving the grant.

READ: Leandro Leviste’s first bill: Allowance for every Filipino student 

On July 11, Leviste demonstrated the program’s feasibility by personally distributing a P1,000 allowance to students in various schools within Batangas’ first district using his own funds.

Leviste said the money came from his Lingkod Legarda Leviste Foundation. He added that he raised ₱34 billion by divesting his controlling stake in Solar Philippines New Energy Corporation, which he sold to the Manila Electric Company when he was elected.

READ: Leviste’s P1,000 allowance sample benefits 150,000 Batangas students

When asked how he plans to fund the program nationwide, Leviste said the solution is to reduce project wastage by having Congress assess which programs are essential and which are prone to losses.

READ: How to fund P1,000 student allowance? Reduce wastage, says Leviste

According to Leviste, if lawmakers forego funding for projects prone to wastage, the country could implement his proposal. He added that even if increased allocations to education lead to a larger deficit, it would be a worthwhile investment for the future.

The focus on infrastructure projects, particularly flood control, followed President Marcos Jr.’s fourth State of the Nation Address, in which he condemned government officials and contractors alleged to have earned kickbacks. Marcos said these officials and contractors should be ashamed of themselves.

READ: Sona 2025: Marcos on corrupt people in flood control deals: ‘Shame on you’

Marcos’ condemnation followed Senator Panfilo Lacson’s warning that half of the country’s nearly P2 trillion allocated for flood control projects since 2011 may have already been lost, highlighting the need for a thorough review.

READ: P1 trillion for flood control likely lost due to graft – Lacson

Eventually, Marcos released a list of contractors, and observers quickly noted links between them and lawmakers and other politicians. With reports from Verleen Dasigan, INQUIRER.net trainee/mcm