With the flood control scandal still unfolding, concerns are mounting over the billions of pesos quietly added to the 2025 and 2026 draft budgets. Watchdogs say Filipinos remain in the dark about who pushed for these additional infrastructure projects and why they were included without public review, fueling growing suspicion.
Who Is Behind the Added Projects?
Lawmakers and analysts say the draft 2025 budget carried around 721 billion pesos ($13 billion) in additional infrastructure items, while the 2026 draft included nearly 497 billion pesos ($9 billion).
Officials familiar with the process say project proposals can come from many places. Cabinet secretaries, undersecretaries, local officials, and even private contractors can recommend projects that later appear under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Experts warn that these types of insertions can appear suspicious, but that does not mean they are illegal. However, many Filipinos
...
Loading comments...