MMDA funds for flood projects cut by P7 billion
Photo of the new 20-storey Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Head Office Building in Pasig City which was inaugurated by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on May 23, 2022. ROBINSON NIÑAL/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
Corruption allegations surrounding the government’s flood mitigation projects might have affected some of the programs of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
At a Senate hearing on Thursday, Sen. JV Ejercito noted the “unfunded items” under the MMDA’s P5.8-billion budget proposal for 2026.
“MMDA submitted a total proposal of P13.576 billion, but only P5.884 billion was recommended by the DBM (Department of Budget and Management) in the 2026 National Expenditure Program, representing a reduction of P7.692, or 56.66 percent,” Ejercito, who was presiding over the meeting, said.
Some of these unfunded projects, according to Ejercito, include a P300 million rehabilitation improvement along Manggahan floodwater channel (Phase 2), and another P300 million for the rehabilitation improvement along lower Marikina River (Phase 20).
Ejercito asked then why the DBM did not fund those projects.
JV Ejercito —SENATE PRIB
‘Allergic’
“Maybe because these are connected to flood control projects, your honor,” MMDA Chair Romando Artes answered.
“We realize that people are a little ‘allergic’ to (antiflood projects), even DBM and the national government. That’s why we did not pursue it,” he added.
The alleged collusion of some politicians, government officials and private contractors to defraud the government of billions of pesos has prompted the scrapping of the P250 billion budget for flood control projects for 2026 under the Department of Public Works and Highways.
“But again, projects like that can help a lot, especially like here in Marikina. They have really hastened the drainage of floodwater from out streets,” Artes went on.
Still, the MMDA retains at least P1 billion budget for flood control projects or P32 million per city, as noted by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chair of the Senate committee on finance.
Sherwin Gatchalian —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
“We have to remember that the flood control of the DPWH were all removed. The MMDA now has over P1B plus for flood control projects. Maybe it’s not the same as DPWH, but it’s the same philosophy,” Gatchalian pointed out.
Artes assured the senator that the decision and determination of these projects lie “solely” with the MMDA.
Gatchalian said that while the DPWH’s initial P275-billion request for 2026 flood control projects was scrapped due to corruption concerns, funding would still be available from previously unspent budgets for projects.
Gatchalian has also pointed to a pattern linking contractors involved in flood control scandals to overpriced farm-to-market road projects, suggesting systemic issues across infrastructure spending.
