Marcos orders flood control reform

PHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has ordered his economic team to prioritize reforms in flood control spending after a recent meeting with the Economy and Development Council, as the government faces a widening graft scandal tied to infrastructure projects.

Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro said the President directed officials to focus on correcting weaknesses in the use of public funds to prevent a repeat of anomalies linked to past flood mitigation projects. She said the President thinks reforms are needed to strengthen transparency and accountability in budget execution.

The flood control controversy has weighed on economic growth, public confidence and investor sentiment, prompting the administration to highlight measures aimed at improving oversight.

Ms. Castro pointed to transparency portals launched by several government agencies, including the Department of Public Works and Highways, which has been central to the scandal. Other agencies such as the Social Security System, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and the Department of Agriculture have rolled out similar platforms. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana