By I. Inojales | 8:00 AM February 24, 2026
CEBU CITY — No locally funded flood control projects have been allocated for Central Visayas under the 2026 national budget, officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) confirmed.
During the “Usapang Budget Natin” forum in Cebu City, DPWH Undersecretary Ador Canlas presented the agency’s budget priorities for the region and disclosed that no funds were set aside this year for locally endorsed flood mitigation structures.
“Again for 2026, wala po tayong local na fund for flood control,” Canlas said.
The absence of funding means no new flood control projects endorsed at the local level will be implemented in Central Visayas through direct national appropriations this year.
However, Canlas clarified that flood mitigation efforts in the region will continue through other funding sources.
The national government has earmarked P4.7 billion as counterpart funding for foreign-assisted flood control projects, which will proceed as part of broader infrastructure programs.
In addition, unused funds from 2025 allocations for flood control implementation and maintenance may still be carried over and utilized this year, subject to existing regulations.
The development comes amid ongoing infrastructure spending reforms under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr..
In recent years, lawmakers and watchdog groups have questioned the effectiveness, duplication, and transparency of some small-scale flood control projects endorsed at the local level. Critics argued that fragmented initiatives, often implemented without comprehensive master plans, yielded limited long-term impact and possible inefficiencies.
In response, the Marcos administration shifted its strategy to prioritize large-scale flood control systems anchored on comprehensive master plans, including foreign-assisted projects. The approach aims to consolidate resources and ensure more strategic and sustainable flood mitigation efforts.
With no new locally funded projects for 2026, local government units in flood-prone parts of Central Visayas will need to depend on ongoing infrastructure works, foreign-assisted initiatives, and remaining funds from previous budgets to mitigate flooding risks.
Further announcements on specific projects covered by foreign-assisted funding are still expected.
