MANILA — Senator Bam Aquino is pushing for a full-scale Senate investigation into the government’s flood control initiatives following days of relentless rainfall that left large parts of the country inundated.
Aquino expressed alarm over the severity of the flooding despite the government earmarking nearly ₱360 billion for flood control projects under the proposed 2025 national budget. This amount accounts for almost 20% of the ₱1.6 trillion infrastructure allocation and is mainly assigned to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other relevant agencies.
“Flood control was the promise, but what the people got was flooding out of control,” Aquino said. “We need to thoroughly examine if these billions in public funds are being used properly.”
The senator also raised concerns over the effectiveness of existing flood mitigation strategies and called for a comprehensive review to ensure public resources are not being misused. “It’s important to determine whether our flood control plans are still effective or if taxpayer money is just going to waste,” he added.
Aquino highlighted the urgent need to shield vulnerable communities from the worsening impacts of climate change, stressing that long-term solutions must be prioritized.
Relief Efforts on the Ground
In addition to pushing for policy accountability, Aquino has also been active in on-the-ground relief efforts. In partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Angat Buhay, Kaya Natin, Kitchen Stories, and other civic groups, he has been coordinating aid operations for flood-stricken families.
On Thursday, Aquino visited a soup kitchen in Marikina, providing meals to affected residents. He is set to continue similar relief activities in Pampanga today.
This relief initiative traces back to 2023 during Typhoon Carina, when Aquino—then chairman of Kaya Natin—first mobilized rapid response teams to deliver aid in coordination with civil society and local government units.
With the country facing increasingly severe weather events, Aquino is calling on fellow lawmakers to ensure that public spending translates into real protection for Filipinos—not just promises on paper.
