The district of Davao City Rep. Paolo “Polong” Duterte received ₱51 billion for flood control projects during the COVID-19 pandemic, DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral said during a hearing of the House committee on infrastructure.
Cabral confirmed that from 2020 to 2022, up to ₱51 billion was allocated based on the National Expenditure Program and General Appropriations Act. According to Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin, it would have been better if it had been spent on pandemic response such as medicines and medical equipment.
Cabral's direct answer is that if he were to be followed, he would rather allocate the funds to the fight against the pandemic than flood control.
Meanwhile, Polong insisted that the projects are clear and visible. He said he is open to an investigation to prove that there are no ghost projects and that flood control works in Davao have actually been implemented.
Based on budget records, in 2020, from ₱4.6B proposal increased to ₱13.7B in GAA. In 2021, from ₱9.67B proposal increased to ₱25B approved. Cabral confirmed that his office has been monitoring the line-item budgets even amid the strict lockdown.
