Posted on August 1, 2025
MANILA — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Wednesday said it is requesting around P5 billion in funds for its dredging and desilting program in 2026.
Speaking at the 2025 post-SONA forum, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan stressed the need to conduct massive dredging and desilting of rivers and creeks, saying the lack of any previous efforts has contributed greatly to the flooding problem in many low-lying areas across the country.
“Matagal na matagal na pong hindi nag-dredge or nag-desilt, more than 15 years… Kahit na gaano kataas yung ilagay naming pansangga sa mga rivers natin, kung hindi po natin dine-desilt at ini-increase yung carrying capacity ng ating rivers, aapaw at aapaw pa rin po yung tubig baha,” he said.
According to Bonoan, his agency has been trying to start this initiative for some time now, but the budget to buy all the equipment needed has never been approved before.
Bonoan wants the DPWH itself to do the job to avoid corruption allegations.
“May perception po na maraming katiwalian na nangyayari pag pinapa-kontrata yung mga dredging project so para maiwasan natin yung mga ganung haka-haka ng mga tao… DPWH na lang po ang gagawa at kami na ang mananagot sa mga dredging program,” he said.
Bonoan also expects to be able to submit to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. by the next week the list of all completed and ongoing flood control projects in the country since the start of the administration’s term in 2022.
Bonoan said his agency has finished 9,800 flood control projects and is still currently building 5,700 more, but the audit process aims to determine which ones are ineffective, delayed, or ghost undertakings.
