Manila: Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday urged the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to carefully sift through infrastructure projects for 2027 to effectively root out corruption.
According to Philippines News Agency, Gatchalian highlighted that although flood control projects are omitted from the 2026 budget, they are expected to return next year due to continued flooding in many areas. He emphasized the importance of preparing the 2027 budget early to avoid the time constraints faced during the 2026 budget process.
The DBM has a policy that requires all new or expanded infrastructure projects to be shovel- or implementation-ready. However, this policy has not been strictly enforced, leading to the approval of ghost and substandard projects. Gatchalian pointed out that projects are sometimes submitted without precise coordinates, merely to be included in the National Expenditure Program (NEP).
In a recent Senate hearing, DPWH officials revealed that 291 out of 337 verified flood control projects lacked accurate coordinates in the 'Isumbong Mo sa Pangulo' portal. Gatchalian criticized the current approach, stating that funding is often secured before projects are properly defined and planned.
