By Melvin C. Gascon
The hometown of former three-term House Rep. Luisa Lloren Cuaresma has emerged as the biggest recipient of flood control projects in Nueva Vizcaya, topping all other municipalities in both number of projects and total allocation, data from Sumbong sa Pangulo website showed.
Records showed that Bambang received 29 flood control projects — the most among all 15 towns — with a combined funding of ₱1.49 billion.
The amount represents the single largest share of total flood control spending across the province.
Bambang Leads with ₱1.49 Billion
Cuaresma, who served as representative of Nueva Vizcaya from 2016 to 2022, hails from Bambang, where she also began her political career as mayor before becoming vice governor and governor.
The former lawmaker’s son Benjamin “Jamie” III sits as Bambang mayor, while her daughter Luisa Corazon is a first-term provincial board member.
Bambang’s leading position in both project count and funding has drawn attention from analysts monitoring infrastructure spending in the province.
Big 4 Recipients
Following Bambang are Bagabag with ₱1.06 billion for 10 projects, Bayombong with ₱1.05 billion for 17 projects, and Aritao with ₱578.56 million for 8 projects.
Together, these four municipalities account for about two-thirds of the total flood control funds recorded in Nueva Vizcaya.
Observers noted that Bambang’s substantial allocation raises questions about how projects were prioritized and whether other flood-prone areas received proportionate funding.
“Bambang’s dominance in both project volume and funding deserves a closer look, especially given its political significance,” said a local official who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal.
Smaller Towns Get the Least
In comparison, upland municipalities received far smaller allocations, according to Sumbong sa Pangulo data.
Kasibu, for instance, recorded only one flood control project worth ₱37.55 million, while Dupax del Norte and Dupax del Sur each had two projects, with ₱145.47 million and ₱192.98 million in funding, respectively.
Four municipalities — Alfonso Castañeda, Ambaguio, Diadi, and Villaverde — were notably excluded from funding for flood control from 2022 to 2025.
The pattern of allocations mirrors long-standing political and economic centralization in the province, where larger, lowland towns, particularly those with established political figures, tend to attract more infrastructure funding.
Witnesses at the recent Blue Ribbon Committee hearings in the Senate have brought to light the systemic corruption in flood control project allocation and implementation across the Philippines.
Their testimonies suggest that project count alone — regardless of actual implementation quality or need — is being influenced by political ties and financial kickback schemes. #
