Iloilo City faces flood risk as 2026 projects halted

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Iloilo City residents may face continued flood risks next year after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. removed allocations for 2026 flood control projects under the proposed national budget.

Iloilo City Lone District Representative Julienne “Jam-jam” Baronda warned that the decision affects hundreds of millions in flood mitigation funds, citing roughly PHP 500 million already lost under the National Expenditure Program.

President Marcos, in a statement on September 15, said that funds from the canceled flood control projects will be redirected to priority sectors such as education, health, agriculture, housing, infrastructure, ICT, labor, social services, and energy.

A spending “menu” will guide lawmakers in making budget adjustments, part of the administration’s efforts to ensure transparency and accountability following reports of irregularities in infrastructure spending.

While no new funds will be allotted for flood control in 2026, ongoing projects funded under the 2025 General Appropriations Act will continue until completion.

The cancellation and realignment follow the creation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, tasked with investigating anomalies in flood control projects over the past decade.

Baronda highlighted the local impact of the budget changes.

“This is a huge impact because hundreds of millions could have gone directly to solving our drainage problems,” she said in an interview following the first People’s Meeting.

“Since there will be no new flood control projects next year, I have already written letters to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority to borrow dredging machines and sanction equipment, and so far, the response is positive—they may be delivered by November,” she added.

She also urged barangay officials to coordinate with the Iloilo City District Engineering Office to implement temporary measures, such as dredging, especially in silted areas, in case of heavy rains.

In partnership with the DPWH-ICDEO, Baronda’s office launched a series of people’s meetings on flood mitigation across the city, starting with Jaro district on October 23 and Molo and City Proper on October 24.

Subsequent meetings are scheduled on October 29 at 9:30 a.m. in Mandurriao and Arevalo, and later that day at 2:00 p.m. in La Paz and Lapuz.

The gatherings included representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Economy, Planning and Development, National Irrigation Administration, and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, along with barangay officials and residents.

The meetings aimed to gather insights on the causes of flooding in the city and discuss possible solutions.

According to Baronda, the outcomes will be compiled and submitted for the 2027 budget preparation.

“Our district engineers normally propose their priority programs, which are submitted to the regional office. We hope that by the end of November, these proposals will be ready so that by early January, before the budget call, the priority programs can be properly considered,” she explained.