Poe points out that flood control projects have 5-year warranty 

The House Committee on Appropriations continued its 2026 budget deliberations with tough questions on flood control projects from vice chairman Rep. Brian Poe, who pressed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on years of flawed implementation and accountability. 

“It is my understanding that DPWH requires a five year warranty period for all flood control projects. That means any projects from 2020-2025 should be covered by this warranty and immediately repaired,” he said.

Poe cited the DPWH’s own report that hundreds of projects from 2017 to 2024 have been flagged for deficiencies, ranging from incomplete plans, poor design and substandard materials. 

Many of these projects, the DPWH admitted, are now on hold pending review and corrective action. 

“These projects cut across several administrations and multiple Congresses. Kaya hindi natin puwedeng sabihing problema lang ito ng isang tao o isang kalihim,” Poe said, noting that the institutional lapses have been deeply embedded in the agency’s operations. 

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, who was appointed to his post two weeks ago, echoed the concern and vowed that practices such as awarding projects without approved engineering designs will be stopped. 

Poe also drew attention to the fact that the DPWH’s unobligated balance for 2025 amounted to ₱392.3 billion with only 22 percent having been disbursed so far this year from the overall budget. 

This, he explained, makes it premature to judge the budget’s performance. 

“This year’s budget will be one of the most closely monitored in history. But we cannot make a conclusion just yet,” Poe said. 

He also reminded the agency that ₱56.7 billion in unobligated funds from 2024 remain available and must be maximized for proper implementation. 

The neophyte lawmaker said that only a mix of accountability and data-driven planning will prevent waste and deliver true protection to communities. 

It can be recalled that all the issues and investigations in the legislative department on ghost flood control projects originated from the state of the nation address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 

Because of this, hundreds of ghost and substandard flood control projects were revealed in the province of Bulacan and while the investigation is ongoing in the lower house and the senate, many more flood control projects are appearing in other provinces. 

Also in Bulacan, 27 individuals have been charged, including personnel from the First District Engineering Office of the DPWH and project contractors.