SENATOR Bam Aquino has called for the reallocation of billions from the government’s massive flood control budget to help address the country’s longstanding classroom shortage, stressing the urgent need to prioritize education over questionable infrastructure spending.

Aquino pointed out that while the government spends hundreds of billions yearly on flood management — some of which are allegedly linked to ghost projects — the budget needed to build all the lacking classrooms nationwide is significantly smaller.

“Flood control projects are receiving ₱350 to ₱500 billion annually. That amount is already bigger than what we need to fully address the classroom shortage in the country,” Aquino said.

The senator stressed that the imbalance is glaring, citing Department of Education data showing 4,000 classrooms affected by recent monsoon rains — with 732 totally destroyed, 726 sustaining major damage, and 2,600 suffering minor damage.

“These are not abstract numbers. Students are the ones directly affected,” Aquino said.

“Every time floods strike, it’s our young learners who lose safe classrooms, forcing them to study in unsafe or makeshift conditions,” he added.

Aquino noted that in flood-prone areas such as Macabebe and Masantol in Pampanga, residents have long demanded sufficient funding for effective flood mitigation.

Yet, he said, flood control projects are still being implemented in places with little to no flooding — raising questions about the efficiency and intent of such expenditures.

He emphasized that if unnecessary or ghost flood control projects were reduced, billions could be redirected to school infrastructure, directly benefiting students and communities.

“In the end, those most affected by flooding are ordinary Filipinos — farmers, workers, and students who must wade through floods just to live their daily lives,” Aquino said.

“If we truly want to protect our people, let’s ensure their children have classrooms that can withstand disasters,” he added.