The President tells local officials ghost projects, commissions and substandard rebuilds will face the full force of the law
MALACAÑANG (November 6, 2026) – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has turned over P8.6 billion in disaster rehabilitation assistance to local governments, warning that anyone who tries to profit from calamity victims will face the full force of the law.
Speaking at the ceremonial turnover of the Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Assistance Program (DRRAP) at the Palace on Thursday, Marcos said the money must help communities rebuild — not become a cash machine for those who treat tragedy as an opportunity.
“There must be no room for corruption in this program. Ghost projects are not allowed. Commissions are not allowed. Substandard rehabilitation projects are not allowed,” the President said.
“Anyone who tries to profit from the suffering of our fellow Filipinos will face the full force of the law. So, to our LGUs, I enjoin you, use these funds wisely and serve our people with the honesty and the diligence that they deserve,” he added.
306 LGUs covered
The aid covers 306 disaster-struck local government units hit by typhoons, earthquakes and the Kanlaon Volcano eruption. DRRAP will fund repairs of roads, bridges, public buildings and evacuation centers, and help restore agriculture, housing, education, health services and local livelihoods.
Marcos said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund still leaves gaps that national agencies cannot always fill. “And that is where the DRRAP comes in. It provides direct financial assistance to LGUs and gives you flexibility to identify and for you to prioritize interventions based on your local circumstances.”
The first batch of more than P6 billion has already been released, while a second batch of more than P2.5 billion has been approved and is being downloaded to the LGUs.
Flood control shadow
The warning echoed Marcos’ continuing crackdown on anomalous infrastructure work. During his fourth State of the Nation Address last year, he ordered a probe into ghost and substandard flood control projects — a scandal that, according to finance department estimates, may have cost the economy about P118.5 billion a year from 2023 to 2025. Related coverage includes the government’s push against flood control corruption and the Commission on Audit’s recent flagging of 300 DPWH projects with visible defects.
Leni Robredo among recipients
Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo, who attended the turnover with other local officials including Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, said she saw no political color in the distribution. “Perhaps the best evidence that there is no political color is the attendance a while ago. We can see that the attendees came from different political parties, different political affiliations,” she told reporters. “In terms of recovery, we cannot let our countrymen wait.”
Marcos also urged LGUs to improve disaster preparedness and to submit proper damage reports to the Office of Civil Defense and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council so aid reaches communities that need it most.