(UPDATE) HOUSE Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno has filed a House resolution for an investigation into the alleged “funders” or sponsors of anomalous and fictitious construction projects in the 2025 national budget, as well as the role of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in the release and withholding of funds.

Puno seeks probe of anomalous projects ‘funders’

Under House Resolution 201 filed on Wednesday, Puno, who is also chairman of the National Unity Party, said the Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers has uncovered irregularities in public works projects funded in recent budgets, including “ghost” or nonexistent projects, and signs of collusion among contractors.

Puno noted the privilege speech of Sen. Panfilo Lacson that exposed the “systemic and institutionalized patterns of impunity in the allocation and release of funds for flood control projects,” which include the coded “distinct” but identical allocations amounting to P77 million, P48 million and P96 million for multiple projects.

He said the DBM itself confirmed during budget hearings that “certain funds, particularly those stemming from congressional insertions in the 2025 General Appropriations Act, were intentionally withheld for later release and would only be disbursed upon compliance with specific conditions, effectively confirming that while some funds were released, others were not.”

He said the dual reality of “some funds released, others withheld” heightens the need for transparency.

“When billions are moved in and out of the budget without clarity, accountability collapses and public trust erodes. Ghost projects and coded allocations are not the technical glitches they seem, rather these are clear red flags of corruption that demand immediate scrutiny,” Puno said., This news data comes from:http://771bg.com

In a separate statement, Bacolod Rep. Albee Benitez said the funds for flood control projects could have been used to provide homes to millions of poor families.

“Had the amount of almost P1.2 trillion been allocated to housing, there would have been enough to build one million decent homes under the government’s 4PH (Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino) housing program,” Benitez said.

He said that despite years where a “deluge of funds has been poured into flood control projects,” Filipinos continue to wade through floods every rainy season.

Puno seeks probe of anomalous projects ‘funders’