Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero wants us to believe he’s the hero of fiscal responsibility, but his fingerprints are all over a P142.7 billion budget heist that’s left Filipinos wading through floodwaters and lies. The phrase “na forthwith yng flood control” isn’t just a viral jab—it’s a searing indictment of Escudero’s role in funneling billions to dubious flood control projects while contractors laugh all the way to the bank. As Metro Manila, Bulacan, and Bicol drown, it’s time to drag Escudero and his cronies into the spotlight and demand answers for this shameless charade.

Let’s cut through the sludge. Leaked documents expose P142.7 billion in “bicameral insertions” allegedly orchestrated by Escudero in the 2025 budget, with flood control and infrastructure projects as the golden goose. Bulacan, cozy with Escudero’s ally Senator Joel Villanueva, snagged P12.08 billion, while Escudero’s Sorsogon raked in P9.13 billion. These aren’t just numbers—they’re a masterclass in opacity. Why were these funds slipped into the budget during shadowy “small bicam” meetings? Why do projects like the Sta. Rita–Biak Na Bato Road in Bulacan—split into five P100 million packages—reek of budget layering? Former COA Commissioner Heidi Mendoza calls this “padding expenses,” a polite term for what looks like legalized looting.

Then there’s the flood control farce. In 2024, the DPWH swallowed P255 billion for flood mitigation—more than entire departmental budgets—yet Typhoon Carina turned Metro Manila into an aquarium. Escudero’s crocodile tears over “where’s the money?” are laughable when he’s the one accused of steering these funds. Dredging projects, a favorite contractor cash cow, are conveniently unverifiable during rainy seasons, as Mendoza points out. Budget entries like “Construction of Flood Mitigation Structures – Nationwide” at P500 million are so vague they could cover anything from a ditch to a yacht. Meanwhile, contractors pocket billions, and Filipinos get flooded streets and broken promises.

“Na forthwith yng flood control” mocks Escudero’s own pompous language, exposing the gap between his rhetoric and the soggy reality. He dismisses accusations as a “demolition job,” but that’s a coward’s dodge. If he’s clean, why hide behind secret budget deals? Why do politically connected provinces like Bulacan and Sorsogon get the jackpot while others beg for scraps? And why do contractors—likely handpicked allies—thrive in a system where accountability is as murky as Manila Bay?

This isn’t just about wasted money; it’s about betrayed trust. Filipinos in Bulacan and Bicol, where P61 billion was supposedly spent on flood control in 2023-2024, deserve more than recycled project names and bloated budgets. Escudero’s call for probes is a hollow stunt unless he names the contractors, opens the books, and explains why his allies’ turfs are swimming in cash while the nation drowns. Until then, “na forthwith yng flood control” is the battle cry of a fed-up public, sick of a Senate President who plays innocent while the system he manipulates leaves us all under water.(TAMBULI NG BAYAN-Ronnie Estrada) #fortwith #ChizEscudero #floodcontrol #budgetinsertion #foryouシ