P9.2B in UA-funded flood control projects failed to save Cebu, 2 other provinces–Tinio

This was bared Friday, Nov. 7 by ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, who counted up to 115 UA-funded flood mitigation projects since 2023 in the provinces of Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Negros Occidental.

But if Tino’s onslaught earlier this week was any indication, the projects didn’t do much to save local residents and their properties.

The House deputy minority leader broke down the figures as follows:

– Cebu: 2023 (41 projects, P3.15 billion), 2024 (61 projects, P5.28 billion) — Total: 102 projects, P8.43 billion;

– Negros Oriental: 2023 (two projects, P45 million), 2024 (one project, P100M) — Total: three projects, P145 million; and

– Negros Occidental: 2023 (two projects, P60 million), 2024 (eight projects, P570 milliom) — Total: 10 projects, P630 million.

Tinio said this resulted to a grand total of 115 projects to rhe tune of P9.2 billion between 2023 and 2024.

He emphasized that these were discretionary projects from UA approved by President Marcos, with the lion’s share going to Cebu.

“He (Marcos) is directly accountable for these projects and must acknowledge and explain why these failed to mitigate the devastation,” reckoned the Makabayan lawmaker.

Tinio claims that UA-funded projects are systematically abused for graft and lack transparency: “All 102 UA flood control projects in Cebu, worth P8.43 billion, lack even basic details. This is corruption by design. How can the public verify a project with no specifications?”

“UA is a slush fund for corruption, responsible for deaths and devastation in Cebu and other areas hit by Typhoon Tino. Billions were supposedly spent, yet communities were left defenseless,” Tinio said.

The ranking solon called for a comprehensive congressional investigation on these flood control projects, as well as the abolition of UA.

“Unprogrammed Appropriations must be abolished. Across the country, the result is the same: billions stolen, communities left vulnerable, lives lost,” he concluded. — Ellson Quismorio