President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said funds recovered or saved from corruption in flood control projects were redirected to education, food programs and health services as he highlighted his administration’s efforts to address corruption and improve accountability in government during his fifth State of the Nation Address on Monday.
Marcos said the government had used part of the funds recovered from corruption in flood control projects to support programs under the Department of Education, food initiatives, the Department of Health, PhilHealth and the Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients and Families (MAIFIP).
“Malaking bahagi ng naisalba nating pondo mula sa korapsyon sa mga flood control projects, ay binuhos natin sa Edukasyon, sa Pagkain, sa DOH, PhilHealth, at MAIFIP. Para talagang makatulong makapagpagaling at makapagpalakas ng katawan ng Pilipino,” Marcos said.
He said the government’s reforms in medical assistance were intended to ensure that taxpayers directly benefit from public funds.
“Sa ating ginawang mga pagbabago, mas marami pa itong matutulungan, anumang antas sa lipunan. Paraan natin ito upang mapakinabangan ng mamamayan ang buwis na kanilang binabayaran,” he said.
Marcos also linked the government’s digital transformation and ease-of-doing-business measures to efforts to curb red tape and corruption.
“Foreign investments continue to pour in because of our beneficial policies, especially those promoting ease of doing business and accelerating digital transformation that curb red tape and corruption,” he said.
He said more than P6 trillion in investments had been facilitated through the government’s Green Lanes over the past three years, with these investments estimated to create more than 400,000 jobs.
The President also mentioned the government’s continuing campaign against corruption in connection with alleged ghost and substandard flood control projects, alongside efforts to address flooding nationwide.
“Katambal ng paglaban sa katiwalian kaugnay ng mga ghost at substandard na flood control projects, naglunsad din tayo ng Oplan Kontra Baha sa buong bansa,” Marcos said.
He also stressed the need to ensure that public infrastructure is built to high standards, amid concerns over the quality and durability of government projects.
“Tulad ng aking binanggit, dapat mataas ang kalidad, matibay, at maghahatid ng pangmatagalang ginhawa sa taumbayan ang lahat ng pampublikong imprastraktura,” he said.
Marcos’ statements came as his administration faces continuing public scrutiny over the use of government funds, particularly in flood control projects, with the President presenting the recovery and reallocation of funds as part of his government’s response to corruption.
