Manila: Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday praised President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s decision to reallocate PHP225 billion, initially designated for locally funded flood control projects in the proposed 2026 budget, towards education, health, and other urgent needs. Cayetano emphasized the importance of making decisive financial choices for the national budget.

According to Philippines News Agency, Cayetano has been a vocal advocate for significant budgetary changes, highlighting the necessity to address the 165,000 classroom shortage using the public works budget. He pointed out that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has managed a budget of approximately PHP1 trillion over the past two years, with PHP350 billion allocated to flood control projects. Cayetano suggested that these funds could instead benefit state universities and colleges.

Cayetano also expressed criticism towards the DPWH's leadership and financial management, citing issues such as inaction on double appropriations in its annual budgets and the mismanagement of public funds through the Engineering and Administrative Overhead Fund.