Actress Nadine Lustre has joined the growing chorus of voices expressing frustration over the alleged misuse of public funds in government flood control projects, saying she sympathizes deeply with Filipinos who are losing their homes and livelihoods to flooding.
In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Lustre admitted she could not help but feel both anger and sadness.
“I’m really sad seeing people struggling, losing their homes, livelihood, pets, because we can’t find a solution,” she said. “Nakakagalit, nakakalungkot na ‘yung binibigay natin na buwis sa ganon napupunta. Nakakainis talaga. It is sad funds are being used for something else.”
Lustre stressed that while citizens are doing their part by paying taxes, government officials should be held accountable.
“We’re paying them to help us and to make things better for us. It’s just sad that the funds are being used for something else,” she said. “Hindi mo pwede kasing iwasan isipin na ‘yung taxes na binabayad natin, hindi naman nagagamit for the people, nakaka-discourage naman talaga.”
Her statement comes amid public outrage over allegedly anomalous multimillion-peso contracts under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Fifteen contractors were flagged for cornering 20 percent of nearly 10,000 projects since 2022—some of which were later revealed to be “ghost projects.”
The controversy has also fueled backlash against the children of politicians and contractors who flaunted their lavish lifestyles on social media. Among them was content creator Claudine Co, daughter of former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Christopher Co, who has since deactivated her accounts.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered lifestyle checks on government officials, starting with the DPWH, while the sumbongsapangulo.ph platform has already received more than 9,000 complaints on questionable flood projects.
Economist JC Punongbayan earlier noted that flood control budgets ballooned from ₱141.6 billion in 2021 to ₱351.3 billion in 2024, raising questions on why flooding remains widespread despite such allocations.
