President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. brushed aside media questions about the government's flood control efforts after Typhoon Carina's destructive path in Luzon.

The President's reaction came days after he touted his administration's flood prevention measures in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 22.

During a media interview following the situation briefing on the effects of Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon last July 24, a reporter asked the President about the status of flood control projects.

"What about that?" Marcos initially responded when asked about the flood control projects. Pressed further on the situation, he added, "I don't think we can – we don’t need to talk about that now. What we need to talk about is how to bring help to the people who are in trouble."

A transcript released by the Presidential Communications Office, however, showed a modified quote from the President.

“I don’t think we can – we need to talk about that now. What we need to talk about is how to bring help to the people who are in trouble,” an excerpt from the transcript read, with the word “DON’T” missing.

The southwest monsoon, intensified by Typhoon Carina, has submerged numerous areas, with thousands of families displaced and needing urgent assistance.

The death toll has reached 34, as per the latest report from the Philippine National Police. At least 18 people were injured, with varying numbers in different regions, and six are currently missing in Luzon.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that 1.3 million people, or 299,344 families, have been impacted by the combined effects of the monsoon and Typhoons Carina and Butchoy nationwide.

Among them, a significant number are seeking shelter in evacuation centers and other locations. Damage to property includes 317 houses affected, with an estimated total damage cost provided.

Agricultural losses have amounted to P9,706,852, while damage to irrigation facilities has risen to P6,560,000. Additionally, infrastructure damage has been reported at P1,298,974.

Contrast

The heavy rains and subsequent flooding have starkly contrasted President Marcos's optimistic narrative of flood prevention during his SONA earlier this week.

“We have completed 5,500 flood control projects, and many are still being done in the whole country,” Marcos said during his third SoNA speech on July 22.

Over the past two to three days last week, the incessant rains have caused heavy flooding, leading to work and class suspensions across three regions. The situation has revived memories of Tropical Storm Ondoy in 2009, which resulted in floods that claimed hundreds of lives.

A Pulse Asia survey conducted in June, a month before the President’s SoNA, revealed that disaster response is one of the only two issues on which the administration has received majority approval – 64 percent of Filipinos expressed satisfaction with the government's efforts to address the needs of calamity-affected areas, while 6 percent were dissatisfied, and 24 percent remained undecided.

It didn’t sit well

Meanwhile, senators question the implementation of flood control projects given the billions of pesos allocation.

Senate President Chiz Escudero said, “Anong nangyari sa daan bilyon na flood control projects ng DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways, MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority), at mga local na pamahalaan.”

Escudero demands a “thorough investigation into the government’s flood control projects in light of the severe flooding despite the multibillion-peso allocation every year.” 

“Ganito na lang ba palagi? Tatanggapin na lang natin na kapag malakas ang ulan, magbabaha at mapaparalisa ang ikot ng buhay natin? Ano'ng nangyari sa ‘building back better’ (Is it always going to be like this? That we just accept when rains are strong, it will flood and paralyze our lives’ flow? What happened to ‘building back better’?),” his statement on Thursday said.  

Senator Imee Marcos also sought to probe the utilization of the government's flood control budget.

“P450 billion, halos (almost) P1.4 billion a day flood control budget. Kung isusuma total mo lahat ng agencies mula DPWH pababa. Saan napunta ang pera (Summing up all budget of all agencies. Where did it all go)?” she was quoted as saying during a recent relief good distribution in Taguig City.

“Yan ang masaklap kasi eto nga nag anunsiyo ang ating pangulo na 5,500 ang natapos na irigasyon. Saan kaya yun? Yun ang dapat nating alamin. At saan napunta yung pera. Umpisa pa lang ng tag-ulan. Ngayon pa lang  Hulyo pa lang eto egh  ang haba haba paano tayo makakaraos yan ang tanong kasi di pa naman  nauubos ang alphabet. Nasa C pa lang tayo eh, Carina pa lang eto eh. May kasunod daw bukas makalawa. Dindo naman. Ay malayo pa ang hahakbangan sana makaraos tayong maigi,” she said. 

(That's the worst because our president announced that 5,500 irrigations have been completed. Where is that? That's what we should know. And where did the money go? The rainy season has just started. It's only now July, so the question is, how can we make ends meet because the alphabet has not been used up yet? We're still in C; Carina is still here. There will be another tomorrow, the day after tomorrow. We still have a long way to go, and I hope we can do well.)


According to Senator Joel Villanueva, the statement that over 5,000 flood control projects, or 60 percent, have been completed is misleading.

“Imagine for the past two years, including this year, we have this P1 billion a day flood control budget for DPWH alone, P1 billion a day. Please tell me if anyone can see at least an improvement sa mga baha (in the flood control),” he said.

This is why Senator JV Ejercito has been pushing for a comprehensive master plan for infrastructure development.

“It is hard to stomach that there is a P300 billion budget for flood control each year, and it seems that projects on flood control are not well planned and executed,” he said. “If the DPWH “continues to make patchi-patchi flood control projects,” he pointed out that nothing will happen.”

The Senate Committee on Public Works, led by Senator Ramon Revilla Jr., will reportedly investigate the reasons behind the inefficiencies in flood control projects.

Out of the P5.768 trillion allocated for the 2024 national budget, approximately P255 billion was designated for the Department of Public Works and Highways' flood control initiatives.