Former Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio “Babes” Singson on Saturday called on lawmakers to declare a “time-out” on budget insertions for flood control projects, warning that billions of pesos are being funneled into programs without feasibility studies or proper basis.
Speaking on DZRH News’ Special on Saturday on August 23, Singson said suspending flood control projects for at least three years would allow time to review questionable allocations.
“Tapusin na natin itong issue na ito. Kawawa naman ang taumbayan… Time-out muna. In the next three years, isuspend ang flood control projects na ‘yan at reviewhin,” he said.
Singson lamented that despite huge appropriations, flooding continues to cripple communities.
“Baha pa rin tayo. Kahapon, sa harap mismo ng DPWH, sa harap mismo ng Senado, baha. Kapag hindi pa sila natuto dyan, ewan ko na lang,” he said.
He noted that in the 2025 budget cycle, the National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted by the DPWH and approved by the Cabinet at ₱900 billion swelled to ₱1.1 trillion under the General Appropriations Act (GAA).
According to Singson, ₱250 billion was carved out from the regular DPWH programs and reclassified as insertions, bringing the total to ₱400 billion in additional projects without feasibility studies.
“Aakala ko nung una, may dagdag o insertion na ₱200 billion. Ang nangyari pala, doon sa ₱900-billion na sinubmit, cinarve out pa ‘yung ₱250 billion, at ginawa ring insertion… Ang total amount of insertions ballooned to ₱400 billion na walang feasibility study, walang pinagbasehan,” Singson explained.
He further said that such projects could not have been implemented without the consent of district engineers, pointing to a long-standing culture of political influence in DPWH appointments.
“Hindi naman mangyayari iyan kung hindi pumayag ang mga district engineers. So, damay mo na ang mga district engineers na may paper trail naman ‘yan. Sino ang nag-approve nyan, sino ang tumanggap nyan, sino ang nagbayad nyan? Isunod mo na. Kasuhan na ninyo. Plunder lahat ‘yan,” he said.
Singson shared that during his time as DPWH chief under the late President Benigno Aquino III, district engineers had authority only for projects up to ₱50 million, while regional directors could approve up to ₱150 million.
“Ngayon, ‘yung ₱50-million, naging ₱150-million, ‘yung ₱150-million, naging ₱400-million, so wala nang projects na nakikita sa central office, kung hindi foreign-assisted na lang,” he warned.
Singson recalled that his original management mantra was “3 Rs” — right project, right cost, and right quality.
At the suggestion of then-President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, he added two more — right time and right people — turning it into the “5 Rs” that he said should still guide infrastructure planning today.
