The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) today blasted President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for his direct accountability in worsening corruption scandals involving flood control projects, even as the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee continues to uncover widespread anomalies in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other government agencies.

“Ito ay hindi lang away ng mga buwaya at gahaman. Pasintabi sa mga totoong buwaya. Ang nakikita natin ay malalang burukrata kapitalismo at kabulukan ng umiiral na sistem, at si Marcos ang namumuno sa sistemang ito,” said Danilo Ramos, KMP Chairperson. “Marcos himself drafts and pushes the national budget, including the trillions allocated to flood control and infrastructure projects. He must be held accountable for this massive plunder.”

From 2023 to 2025, KMP noted nearly Php1 trillion was allotted to flood control projects under the General Appropriations Act. Despite repeated exposés and Senate hearings on ghost projects, kickbacks, and substandard construction, the proposed 2026 budget still allocates Php275 billion for flood control programs, according to the Department of Budget and Management.

Flood control budget allocations under Marcos Jr.:

> 2023: Php185 billion (DPWH Flood Management Program)
> 2024: Php215.6 billion (DPWH flood projects) plus Php10 billion for MMDA and foreign-assisted programs, totaling Php225.7 billion
> 2025: Php346.6 billion, with Php16.7 billion vetoed by Marcos as “redundant”
> 2026 (proposed): Php274.9 billion (Php272.3 billion for DPWH, Php2.6 billion for MMDA), marking a Php71.7 billion (26%) cut from 2025

“Hindi na bago ang mga natuklasan ng Blue Ribbon Committee. Matagal nang lantad sa publiko kung gaano kakurakot ang DPWH,” Ramos stressed. “Matagal nang pugad ng korapsyon at katiwalian ang mga flood control at farm-to-market road projects para sa mga tiwaling opisyal at contractors. Ang pinaghirapang buwis ng taumbayan, ninanakaw ng mga gahaman.”

KMP emphasized that despite damning revelations, the Marcos administration refuses to dismantle the system. Instead, it continues to channel hundreds of billions into flood control funding.

“Even with the Senate’s investigations, Marcos refuses to reform because his regime profits from it,” Ramos said. KMP also noted that the DPWH—long notorious as a “den of corruption”—is directly under the Office of the President. The resignation of former Secretary Manny Bonoan and his replacement by Vince Dizon was dismissed as cosmetic.

“Whoever Marcos installs as secretary will serve at his pleasure. Changing faces at the top will not stop the systemic looting that continues below,” Ramos said.

The farmers’ group also condemned the persistence of pork barrel politics through congressional insertions in the DPWH budget. Reports raised in Senate hearings show lawmakers enjoy “allocations” for projects in exchange for loyalty to Malacañang, in collusion with contractors and DPWH officials.

“This is systemic plunder,” Ramos said. “It is not enough to blame contractors and low-ranking officials. If Marcos were serious about fighting corruption, he should go after the big fish—including himself. Instead, his so-called anti-corruption campaign is a PR stunt to tighten his grip on the national budget.”

KMP called on the Filipino people to hold Marcos accountable, scrap anomalous flood control projects, abolish confidential and intelligence funds, and mount mass actions against systemic corruption. ###