The Menu, The Mandate, and The Malefactors

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to cancel the ₱255.5 billion budget for new flood control projects in 2026 is a commendable and audacious move. It is a direct response to his own “disturbing assessment” that a systemically corrupt machinery allowed a mere 15 contractors to corner 20% of infrastructure funds. Diverting these massive savings to critical sectors like education and health is not just sound policy; it is a moral imperative.

However, this bold first step brings us to the real battlefield, where three critical mandates must be met.

First, we must seize this historic opportunity for our children. For years, the excuse for failing to solve our education crisis has been a lack of funds. That excuse is now gone. The Philippines has a staggering 165,000-classroom backlog, forcing 5.1 million students to become “aisle learners”—a national shame.¹ A significant portion of the realigned budget must be used to implement a proven, ready-made solution: expanding the voucher program. The Education Service Contracting (ESC) and Senior High School Voucher Program (SHSVP) have a decades-long track record of cost-effectively moving students from overcrowded public schools to private institutions with available seats. It is a no-brainer. There is no need for new studies or committees; the money is here, and the solution is ready.

Second, we must guard the President’s “menu.” We must not be naive. We know that a ₱255.5-billion pot of unallocated funds would trigger a congressional feeding frenzy, turning a solution into another pork barrel fiesta. The creation of a strict spending “menu” is the single most important mechanism to ensure these funds reach classrooms, hospitals, and farms, not a politician’s pet project. This is where the real test of political will begins. The public, the media, and civil society must act as vigilant watchdogs. We must challenge our lawmakers to adhere to this menu with absolute fidelity. The fight is not just about realigning the budget; it is about protecting it from the very system that made this realignment necessary.

Finally, realignment is not justice. Let us be clear: the reason these funds are available is because of crime on a massive scale. While we secure the future of this budget, we must demand accountability for its past. The President has vowed that those involved will be held accountable and has formed an Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to investigate. This cannot be another pro-forma body. We demand results. Who are the 15 contractors? Who were their enablers in the DPWH and Congress? Moving money treats the symptom; prosecuting and jailing the corrupt cures the disease.

The administration has correctly identified the problem and proposed a sound solution. But its ultimate success will be measured on three fronts: Are our children finally off the aisles and into real classrooms? Was the budget menu protected from political interests? And are the malefactors who plundered our nation’s coffers facing the full force of the law? Answering yes to all three is the only acceptable outcome.