Manila, Aug. 19 -- Officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Tuesday explained before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee why billions in flood control funds were allocated to provinces not among the country's top flood-prone areas.

Senator Erwin Tulfo raised the issue after citing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s list of flood control project recipients, which showed Cebu, Isabela, Albay, Leyte, and Camarines Sur among the top recipients despite not being in the 10 most flood-prone provinces led by Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Maguindanao, North Cotabato, Oriental Mindoro, and Ilocos Norte.

"Bakit po napakalaki naman ng pinon...