Senate Investigates 60 Flood Control Projects
Senate Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta recently revealed that a total of 60 flood control projects are currently under intense scrutiny, as they may fall under the category of “ghost projects.” This key issue of possible ghost projects has raised serious concerns about transparency and accountability in infrastructure development.
According to Marcoleta, the figure of 60 projects was derived from data provided by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which was cross-checked during previous Senate hearings. “60 projects seem to appear to be exactly as described. There are a total of 60 flood control projects,” he emphasized, referring specifically to projects suspected of being nonexistent or improperly documented.
Contractors Linked to Possible Ghost Projects
Marcoleta also disclosed a list of contractors who allegedly received contracts for these questionable flood control projects. The contractors and their corresponding number of projects are as follows:
- Silverwolves Construction Corporation — 15 projects
- Wawao Builders — 6 projects
- St. Timothy plus St. Matthew — 4 projects
- Unimax Steel — 4 projects
- Jagonbuild Construction Corporation — 3 projects
- SYMS Construction Trading — 3 projects
- M3 Konstract Corporation — 3 projects
- Darcy and Anna Builders Trading — 3 projects
- MG Samidan — 3 projects
In addition, Marcoleta mentioned that several other contractors—unnamed at this time—each received one flood control project, rounding out the total of 60 possible ghost projects.
Communication with Former DPWH Secretary
The senator shared his disappointment over his attempts to clarify these issues with former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan before his resignation. Marcoleta recounted, “Unfortunately, to our disappointment, before Secretary Bonoan resigned, I texted him… Because he only gave us two.” He was referring to the projects located at Maycapiz-Taliptip River, Package B, Barangay Perez, Bulakan, Bulacan, and Barangay Piel, Baliwag, Bulacan.
Moreover, Marcoleta said Bonoan hinted at the existence of 15 projects that reportedly lack any structural completion. This raises further questions about project execution and monitoring.
Clarification on Missing Projects
In a recent press briefing, Bonoan acknowledged that 15 projects out of approximately 1,600 validated flood control initiatives nationwide are either “non-existent” or “missing.” However, he clarified that these projects have not yet been officially confirmed as ghost projects pending further investigation.
Conclusion
The issue of these 60 flood control projects under scrutiny highlights ongoing challenges in project management and government oversight. It underscores the importance of transparency and thorough verification to ensure that public funds are properly utilized for essential infrastructure.
For more news and updates on flood control projects, visit Filipinokami.com.
