Palace sees need to review over 500 flood control projects in Cebu

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

REVIEW OF FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro calls for a review of more than 500 flood control projects in Cebu to ensure their effectiveness and proper use of government funds, noting that 343 projects implemented from 2016 to 2022 should have already been functioning, in a press briefing on Wednesday (Nov. 5, 2025). Castro emphasized the need to identify and hold accountable those responsible for anomalous projects, especially after Typhoon Tino caused widespread flooding in the province. (Photo: PNA/Facebook)

MANILA – Malacañang on Wednesday said there is a need to review the implementation of more than 500 flood control projects in Cebu to ensure their effectiveness and the proper use of government funds.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that from 2016 to 2022 alone, around 343 flood control projects were implemented, with two of them being “terminated.”

Castro noted that under the Marcos administration, there are around 168 flood mitigation projects, with 55 still ongoing.

“Lumalabas po na 343 flood control projects ang nagawa since 2016 to 2022 sa Cebu (Apparently, 343 flood control projects have been implemented from 2016 to 2022 in Cebu),” Castro said in a Palace press briefing.

She said the flood control projects implemented under the Duterte administration “should have been working” by now.

“So, dapat din po itong makita dahil kung meron pong 343 flood control projects noon pa man, dapat po sana ay gumagana po ito (So, this also needs to be reviewed because if there were already 343 flood control projects back then, they should have been working),” she added.

Castro made the statement following Typhoon Tino (international name Kalmaegi), which triggered widespread flooding in Cebu.

Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro lamented that the province continues to experience extreme flash floods despite the allocation of PHP26 billion for flood control initiatives.

Castro said the Palace welcomes any data or information related to the flood control projects that Baricuatro may provide.

“Kung meron po siyang mga alam, may mga facts, may mga data rin po si governor para dito na makakatulong sa ating gobyerno para mapanagot ang dapat mapanagot, iyan po ay welcome (If she has any information, facts, or data that can help the government hold those accountable, it is welcome),” she said.

“So, pagtulung-tulungan po nating mahanap ang dapat mapanagot sa mga ma-anomalyang flood control project (We need to work together to identify who should be held accountable for the anomalous flood control projects).”

Castro said Marcos would visit Cebu to assess Tino’s damage.