Overview: Money Fails to Match the Impacts
Despite a steady rise in disaster-related allocations for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Philippines continues to experience high disaster impacts, according to a policy note from the University of the Philippines’ National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG). The note emphasizes that while DPWH funding is crucial to the government’s disaster risk reduction (DRR) mandate, the expected mitigation effects have not materialized at the desired scale.
What the Numbers Show
UP-NCPAG highlights a stark trend: DRR-related infrastructure allocations have dominated DPWH’s budget in recent years. In 2025, DRR spending reached about 83% of the DPWH budget (P926 billion), far outpacing the P248-billion Flood Management Program. The pattern mirrors the years 2023 and 2024, when DRR shares were 73% and 83% of total budgets, respectively. The policy note suggests that while DRR investment is substantial, its effectiveness remains in question.
Interpretation of the Data
The analysis states that disaster risk reduction is not solely the DPWH’s responsibility, yet the agency has received the highest DRR funding over the past years. UP-NCPAG asks: are big-ticket flood control projects delivering commensurate reductions in flood damage? The answer appears mixed. Critics point to a number of substandard or non-existent flood mitigation works as factors contributing to persistent community impacts from flooding.
Underlying Concerns: Budget vs. Performance
From 2015 to 2024, DPWH reportedly led climate change expenditures among government agencies. In 2024, climate-related DRR projects totaled P375 billion and covered construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of flood mitigation infrastructure, excluding road projects that some agencies count as climate measures. The note also flags that DPWH has been a major recipient of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management (NDRRM) Fund, and has benefited from additional funds via Unprogrammed Appropriations (UA) for flood control and related projects.
Budget vs. Outcomes
UP-NCPAG stresses a critical gap: despite increased spending, the country still faces high disaster impacts. The policy note argues that “the crisis is not a funding issue.” A pattern of large investments in flood control—without corresponding mitigation performance—points to systemic flaws in project selection, design, procurement, and implementation.
Alarming Examples and Broader Trends
-data shows Albay and other provinces illustrate the troubling disconnect. Albay alone reportedly has hundreds of flood control projects and billions of pesos invested, yet the province has also suffered substantial flood-related infrastructure damage over time. This pattern raises questions about project targeting, maintenance regimes, and the long-term sustainability of structures intended to shield communities from flood events.
Recommended Reforms
To address these concerns, UP-NCPAG outlines concrete steps:
– Establish an Independent Commission for Infrastructure with a mandate to expand investigations beyond the Flood Management Programs to scrutinize all flood-control and disaster-related structures.
– Consider transferring the DPWH’s disaster risk reduction functions to a dedicated agency better suited to cross-sector DRR planning and execution.
– Strengthen governance and accountability in DRR funding, with clearer lines of responsibility, performance benchmarks, and transparent reporting on outcomes.
What This Means for Policy and Practice
The UP-NCPAG policy note is a call to action for lawmakers, civil society, and the public administration community. It argues that simply pouring more money into DRR projects without robust oversight and outcome-focused planning will not reduce disaster impacts. The report emphasizes a need for structural reforms to ensure that investments translate into safer, more resilient communities.
