By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday bared the “menu” for priority programs where the budget originally intended for flood control projects in 2026 will be realigned.
The President disclosed the list during a press conference in Malacañang after announcing the full composition of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) that will investigate irregularities in flood control and infrastructure programs undertaken by the government in the past 10 years.
Marcos previously said that the proposed budget for flood control projects under the 2026 National Expenditure Program will be reallocated to education, health, and other departments.
“Since we have cancelled all flood control projects for 2026, [for] those savings, we already put a menu… kailangan na maliwanag na maliwanag na mapupunta sa tamang lugar,” he said.
“So we have made a menu for our legislators to follow, then say that all insertions, all changes made can only be made to the benefit of these agencies,” he added.
According to the Chief Executive, the reappropriated budget will now cover education, agriculture, health, housing, infrastructure, ICT, labor, social welfare, and energy.
The full “spending menu” is as follows:
State Universities and Colleges (SUCs)
- Construction of laboratory buildings
- Construction of students’ dormitories
- Construction of academic buildings
Department of Education (DepEd)
- Basic Education Facilities (BEF) Fund/school building program
- Textbooks and other instructional materials
- Laptops (Computerization Program)
- Last Mile Schools Program
Department of Agriculture (D.A.)
- Rice subsidy
- Farm-to-market roads
- Postharvest facilities
- Expansion of cold storage facilities
- Fish ports
National Irrigation Administration (NIA)
- Irrigation dams
Department of Health (DOH)
- Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP)
- Provision of medicines
- Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP)
Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and National Housing Authority (NHA)
- Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program
Office of Civil Defense (OCD)
- Evacuation centers
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)
- Free Wi-Fi for All Program;
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
- Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) Program;
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
- Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS)
Department of Energy (DOE) and Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC)
- Electrification projects
The 2026 spending plan of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is currently under review pursuant to Marcos’ directive to DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Sec. Amemah Pangandaman.
-jpv
