Flood control or cash control? Solons hurl accusations of scandal

MANILA - A fresh budget scandal is rocking Congress!

Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin dropped a bombshell, accusing Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco of sneaking in a ₱529-million “insertion” into the 2025 national budget.

The juicy part? Two flood control projects allegedly funded by Tiangco’s insertion reportedly landed in the laps of controversial contractors already under probe for “ghost projects” — St. Timothy and SYMS Trading Construction.

“Ironically, while Tiangco is pointing fingers at Ako Bicol’s Zaldy Co for supposed insertions, he himself has one worth more than half a billion pesos!” Garbin fired back.

He revealed that 65–70% of Tiangco’s budget insertions went to flood control projects in Navotas, raising eyebrows as DPWH even sought Tiangco’s help to push one through.

Garbin didn’t hold back, hinting that Tiangco’s rants may be fueled by his frustrated ambition to become House Speaker or head of the Appropriations Committee.

So far, Tiangco’s camp has remained mum.

But that’s not all — another lawmaker, ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, uncovered nearly ₱1 billion in double and triple entries in the 2025 flood control budget!

One project in Iloilo’s Barangay Mangorokoro reportedly appeared three times, ballooning to ₱379 million in allocations.

Tinio warned: “We found double entries totaling ₱939 million — this is not a small issue. Many projects are patchwork, not based on science, but on politics and patronage.”

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon himself admitted there’s too much fat in the flood control budget, calling for a cut in its proposed ₱268-billion allocation for 2026.

House Appropriations chair Mikaela Suansing agreed, saying only flood projects in high-risk ‘red zones’ identified by UP’s Project NOAH should get funding.

With billions at stake, taxpayers are left wondering: are these flood control projects meant to save lives — or just to flood politicians’ pockets?