MANILA (September 27) – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the reallocation of more than ₱192 billion originally intended for flood control projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to support the distribution of emergency assistance to areas devastated by recent typhoons and to strengthen government response to future calamities.
Speaking in San Fernando City, La Union, during the distribution of aid to farmers and disaster-stricken families, Marcos underscored the importance of addressing immediate needs over long-term infrastructure programs that he said were plagued by inefficiencies and irregularities.
“I want to inform our fellow Filipinos that over ₱195 billion in DPWH funds will be reallocated,” the President announced at the Speaker Pro Tempore Francisco Ortega Convention Center. “We generated savings after halting projects that failed to address actual problems. Some were even ghost projects or poorly executed. We stopped all of them to ensure the proper use of your money. This is not government money—it belongs to the people.”
According to Marcos, the realigned funds will directly support disaster relief and social protection programs, ensuring that displaced and vulnerable Filipinos receive timely assistance. He added that the decision was also driven by forecasts of another typhoon expected to hit the country, highlighting the need for proactive action.
“Through our investigations, we were able to save a substantial amount. It is from these savings that we are drawing the ₱195 billion we will now use for different forms of assistance to our people,” he explained.
During the program, Marcos personally led the distribution of various aid packages, including fuel assistance cards worth ₱3,000 each for 275 farmers who own or rent agricultural machinery used for crop, livestock, and poultry production. The initiative, under the Department of Agriculture’s Fuel Assistance to Farmers Program, aims to cushion the impact of rising oil prices and improve the resiliency of the farming sector.
The Department of Agriculture also handed out inorganic fertilizer subsidies for priority crops such as rice to boost yield and reduce costs, while promoting the balanced use of organic and inorganic inputs. A total of 1,207 fertilizer bags weighing 50 kilograms each were turned over to the local governments of San Fernando City, San Juan, and Bacnotan through their respective municipal agriculturists.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) extended financial and food assistance to calamity victims. Around 800 families severely affected by recent disasters received ₱10,179 each in cash aid, along with family food packs.
Marcos stressed that the government’s focus remains on ensuring that public funds are maximized for programs with direct impact on the lives of Filipinos, especially those most vulnerable during disasters.
“This effort goes beyond reallocating resources—it is about making sure government works for the people in the moments they need it most,” the President said.
