Flood-prone communities in the Philippines will be at the top of the list for government funding in 2026, especially for flood control projects, according to Representative Mikaela Suansing, chairperson of the House committee on appropriations.
Suansing explained that every year, the House of Representatives reviews the budgets of different government agencies. They can choose to lower, keep, or increase funding for specific projects. For the 2026 national budget, she said the priority will be flood control projects in the areas that need them the most.
“In the House, what we will fight for is to make sure these flood control projects are placed exactly where they are most needed,” Suansing said.
Her statement comes after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently pointed out that many flood control projects in 2025 were built in places that were not even flood zones.
Suansing stressed the importance of proper planning. She said that regional offices should have a clear flood mitigation plan to serve as a guide before projects are approved. This plan should map out where floodwaters go, so that new infrastructure is actually useful in preventing floods.
She also promised that the House will make sure there’s coordination between the national government and regional offices, so projects are based on real flood risks and not just built anywhere without strategy.
If done right, this could mean that in the coming years, the areas hit hardest by floods will get stronger protection first, instead of money being wasted on places that don’t really need it.
