MALACAÑANG on Thursday allayed public concerns over potential fund misuse under the proposed 2027 national budget, assuring that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is committed to strict oversight in the construction of regional evacuation centers.
Addressing fears of corruption or ghost projects, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro emphasized that robust monitoring mechanisms are in place to guarantee project completion and transparency.
“We have many ways to verify if funded projects are actually constructed, which is precisely what the President wants,” Castro stated during a Palace press briefing. “The President will not tolerate ghost projects that occurred in past administrations or even under the current one.”
Under Republic Act No. 12076, or the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, the proposed 2027 budget sets aside funding for two Ligtas Pinoy Centers (LPC) per region, valued at ₱90 million each—totalling roughly ₱2.88 billion nationwide.
The allocation includes site development and adjustments tailored to unique local topographical conditions.
Responding to concerns over arbitrary site selection, Castro cited a statement from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) clarifying that location choices are legally governed by technical evaluations rather than political discretion.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), in coordination with local government units (LGUs) and relevant disaster agencies, is mandated to identify and prioritize location sites based on disaster risk, land availability, and community needs.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will serve as the primary implementing agency for the structural builds.
Castro noted that site identification is already underway, with the DPWH requesting the prioritized list from the Office of Civil Defense on August 10, 2026, to ensure projects are fully pre-vetted and ready for immediate implementation.
“In short, the purpose, number, cost, and implementing framework are already defined,” the DBM added, reassuring the public that every peso spent will directly benefit disaster-prone communities.
