Malacañang assured the public that the proposed P3.06-billion allocation for evacuation centers under the 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP) will not be used as an election or campaign fund.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro issued the assurance Thursday after Sen. Panfilo Lacson questioned the uniform P180-million allocation for evacuation centers in each region.
Castro said the government has mechanisms to monitor nationally funded projects and determine whether projects receiving allocations are actually implemented.
“Sa pangamba na ito ay magagamit sa eleksyon, marami po tayong paraan para makita natin kung may mga proyektong napondohan pero hindi nagawa dahil iyan naman po ang gusto ng ating Pangulo,” Castro told Palace reporters.
She also rejected concerns that the projects could become “ghost projects,” saying President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. would not allow such projects under his administration.
“Hindi na po nanaisin ng Pangulo na magkaroon ng mga ghost projects na nangyari sa mga nakaraang administrasyon at sa administrasyong kasalukuyan,” she said.
Castro said the absence of specific locations in the 2027 NEP does not mean the evacuation centers lack an implementation process or that their sites can be selected arbitrarily.
Under Republic Act 12076, or the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), in coordination with local government units and concerned agencies, must identify and prioritize sites for evacuation centers.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will serve as the implementing agency.
Castro said authorities will consider disaster risks, topography, land availability and the needs of communities when selecting sites.
“Thus, the specific locations are determined to the process prescribed by law rather than by DBM or DPWH discretion,” she said.
For 2027, the proposed allocation covers two Ligtas Pinoy Centers per region at P90 million each. Castro said the amount follows the program’s five-year implementation plan and includes site development and adjustments for unique site conditions.
She said the site identification process is already underway. The DPWH formally asked the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Aug. 10 to submit a prioritized list of sites to ensure that the projects are properly identified and ready for implementation.
“In short, the purpose, number, cost and implementing framework are already defined. The specific sites are being finalized to the legally mandated prioritization process,” Castro said.
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