PBBM orders audit, review of flood control projects

WATERWORLD. Vehicles plow through flooded España Boulevard in Manila on Tuesday (July 22, 2025). Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso will convene the city council on Wednesday (July 23) to discuss the declaration of a state of calamity that will enable villages to use their calamity funds and release relief goods. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)

By Ferdinand Patinio, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday directed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to submit a list of flood control projects that were constructed since the start of his administration in 2022.

During his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered at the House of Representatives, the Chief Executive said that during his inspection in areas that were affected by flooding caused by the weather disturbances last week, he personally saw some projects that were substandard, and even collapsed.

“I recently inspected the effects of typhoon Crising, Dante, Emong, (and) southwest monsoon. I saw that many flood control projects were sloppy and have collapsed, others were just imaginary,” he said.

“Huwag na po tayong magkunwari. Alam ng buong madla na nagkaka-raket sa mga proyekto. Mga kickback, mga ‘initiative’, ‘errata’, ‘S.O.P.’, ‘for the boys’. Kaya sa mga nakikipagsabwatan upang kunin ang pondo ng bayan at nakawin ang kinabukasan ng ating mga mamamayan, mahiya naman kayo sa inyong kapwa Pilipino! (Let’s not pretend anymore. The public knows that there are rackets in projects, kickbacks, ‘standard operating procedure (SOP)’, for the boys.’ So to those who are conspiring to benefit from public funds and steal the future of our citizens, shame on you!)

“Mahiya naman kayo sa mga kabahayan nating naanod o nalubog sa mga pagbaha. Mahiya kayo lalo na sa mga anak natin na magmamana ng mga utang na ginawa ninyo na binulsa nyo lang ang pera (Be ashamed of those whose homes were washed away, or submerged in the floods, especially to our children who will inherit the debts you incurred only to pocket funds)” Marcos added.

In order to stop corruption in the implementation of infrastructure projects, he ordered an audit and performance review of all flood control structures.

“The DPWH will immediately submit to me a list of all flood control projects from every region that were started or completed in the last three years. Second, the regional project monitoring committee shall examine that list of projects and give a report on those that have been failures, those that were not finished and those that are alleged to be ghost projects. Third, we will publish this list,” the President said.

He also urged the public to scrutinize the list once it has been published.

“We will make this list public. So that the public, who are witnesses to these projects, can freely review the list and share what they know to help our investigation,” Marcos said.

“In the coming months, all those who emerge guilty from the investigation will be charged, including the contractors who are involved throughout the country. The people need to know the whole truth. Someone needs to be held accountable for the severe damage and corruption that has occurred,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, the President said the multi-billion-peso Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge project will start construction this year.

The 32-km. bridge will cross Manila Bay and link Mariveles, Bataan to Naic, Cavite. Once completed, the travel time between the two provinces will be reduced from five hours to only 45 minutes.

At the same time, Marcos noted that the rehabilitation of the Guadalupe Bridge in Makati City will be prioritized.