Photo courtesy of Philstar.com
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is turning the tide on flood control—and corruption—this year, putting transparency, accountability, and fiscal discipline at the center of his administration’s drive to clean up infrastructure projects.
As 2025 closes, Marcos has personally inspected areas plagued by delayed, substandard, or missing flood control works, vowing that no project funded by the government will slip through the cracks.
In a decisive move, he suspended new flood control allocations in the 2026 budget, ordering the full use of the PHP350 billion set aside in 2025 before any new funds are released. “Many projects slated for 2026 may no longer be necessary,” Marcos said, noting that existing funds remain unspent or unfinished.
The President redirected the savings to critical sectors—education, health, agriculture, housing, and social services—ensuring public money is spent strategically.
Crackdown on sloppy and ghost projects
Marcos demanded strict oversight of ongoing flood control works. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was ordered to enforce engineering standards and require contractors to fix any defective work at their own expense.
The President also called for a full public listing of projects to promote scrutiny and transparency. Audits revealed a troubling pattern: PHP100 billion—about 20 percent of PHP545.64 billion spent since mid-2022—was awarded to just 15 contractors. Marcos warned this concentration raised serious concerns over potential irregularities.
To intensify investigations, Marcos issued Executive Order No. 94, creating the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to probe anomalies and recommend legal action. By November, the ICI was reviewing 80 flagged projects, coordinating with law enforcement, while government data shows roughly 5,700 ongoing flood works and nearly 9,856 completed since mid-2022.
Public watchdogs welcome
The administration also ramped up citizen reporting. The “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website and the DPWH transparency portal now allow Filipinos to report ghost projects, delays, or substandard work. Recent updates provide detailed info on project locations, budgets, contractors, timelines, and completion status—arming the public and media to monitor government spending.
Marcos stressed that public scrutiny is essential to restoring trust. “Proper oversight ensures projects are built right, completed on time, and honestly paid for,” he said.
Arrests and criminal charges
The crackdown is more than administrative. Several individuals, including controversial contractor Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya, have faced criminal charges before the Sandiganbayan and Office of the Ombudsman. Accused officials and contractors face graft, malversation, falsification, and related offenses.
Malacañang hailed the arrests as proof that the probe has moved from paper to criminal accountability. Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Dave Gomez warned: “There will surely be more thrown behind bars in the New Year.”
Marcos emphasized that evidence must be rock solid. Weak cases risk undermining justice. “We know many are not innocent, but the law must prevail with strong proof,” he said.
2026 and beyond
As 2025 ends, the Palace insists the fight is “far from over.” Flood control remains a priority, with strict standards and local acceptance required before projects are certified complete.
“Hold accountable everyone who should be held accountable—relatives, friends, allies,” Malacañang said, signaling a no-exceptions approach in 2026.
For Marcos, flood control is not just infrastructure—it’s a test of governance, a measure of integrity, and a statement that public funds must serve the people, not private interests.
