MANILA (PIA) – The Philippines’ budget for flood control in 2025 is set to reach P257 billion, a significant increase from this year’s allocation, according to a proposal submitted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
The National Expenditure Program stated that the water resources development and flood control sub-sector will receive P257.06 billion, largely attributed to the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) Flood Management Program, which will allocate P254.29 billion for the construction and maintenance of flood mitigation structures and drainage systems.
The proposed 2025 flood control budget marks a substantial jump from the current year’s allocation of P244.5 billion. According to the proposed 2024 General Appropriations Act, the DPWH had previously allotted P104.7 billion for flood mitigation efforts.
The proposed flood control budget far surpasses allocations in other critical areas, such as the Department of Agriculture’s capital outlay (P40.13 billion), irrigation (P31 billion), and the Department of Health (P24.57 billion).
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero urged legislators to work together to understand why “chronic, severe flooding continues to afflict the nation’s capital” even after more than a decade has passed since Tropical Storm Ondoy hit the Philippines.
The country’s national disaster risk reduction and management agency reported that 39 people lost their lives due to the effects of Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon, while the number of affected individuals reached 4.84 million.
Infrastructure damage amounted to P4.26 billion, with P1.6 billion of that total coming from Central Luzon. (JCO/PIA-NCR)
