President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said the P300 billion allotted this year for flood control projects would be carried over to 2026.

“So, tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang magiging flood control project hanggang sa susunod na taon at mayroon naman tayo na ia-approve na flood control project. Basta’t nakita natin ay maayos ang proposal, maayos ang program of work, maayos ang completion, may acceptance ng local government. That’s the new factor that we put in,” Marcos said during his visit to Gonzaga, Cagayan, where he led the distribution of assistance to residents and farmers affected by Super Typhoon Nando.

Marcos also said the administration would ensure public funds are spent wisely for the welfare of Filipinos, adding that past abuses in the implementation of multi-billion-peso flood control and infrastructure projects will not be repeated.

Marcos said the government only serves as a “custodian” of taxpayers’ money.

“Kami po ay kung tawagin ay ‘custodian’ lang, tiga-bantay lang kami sa pera ninyo. Hindi amin ‘yan. Sa inyo pa rin ‘yan,” he said.

Marcos had ordered the transfer of P255.5 billion originally earmarked for flood control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to the priority programs of other government agencies.

The president previously directed all government departments and agencies to reinstate the “acceptance” process of local government units before the national government projects can be deemed as completed.

Marcos had said that this would ensure that the projects are fully finished before turnover.