Flood Control Plans Expose Ongoing Ghost Project Issues
The issue of flood control plans turning into ghost projects has long plagued the Philippines, with warnings dating back to 2017, Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua highlighted on Tuesday. The four-word keyphrase “flood control plans” appears early in this discussion, emphasizing its central concern.
During an infrastructure committee hearing at the House of Representatives, Chua revealed that the Commission on Audit (COA) issued reports from 2017 to 2020 pointing to numerous flood control projects that were delayed, defective, or left completely unimplemented. Various sources confirmed that these flood control plans have consistently failed to deliver, costing the government billions of pesos.
Historical Warnings and Investigations
Chua cited multiple reports noting irregularities in flood control plans. He referenced findings from the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism in 2018, which uncovered involvement from major contractors in flood control projects that were either stalled or unfinished. These revelations confirmed long-standing concerns about corruption and mismanagement.
Local leaders recalled that lawmakers from the 17th Congress, including the late former Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr., had previously uncovered a flood control scam involving P133 billion in the national spending program. Andaya had disclosed that a town mayor in the Bicol region informed him about a cabinet member under former President Rodrigo Duterte who allegedly facilitated the “parking” of P300 million earmarked for a flood mitigation project in his municipality.
Budget Insertions and Corruption Risks
Further scrutiny came in 2019 when the House committee on appropriations discovered that many flood control projects were vulnerable to budget insertions—funds allocated without proper consultation or clear justification. According to officials, these insertions totaled billions of pesos, increasing the risk of corruption and misuse of public funds.
Chua summarized the situation, stating, “This problem is not new; it is inherited, accumulated, and neglected. Now, it has resurfaced as a wound that was never properly treated.”
Audit Reports Highlight Bureaucratic Bottlenecks
The COA’s 2017 annual audit report revealed that the Duterte administration’s flagship infrastructure program faced significant bureaucratic delays. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) utilized only about one-third of its P662.69-billion budget that year, despite improvements in budget allocation capabilities.
Among the affected projects were flood control initiatives, school buildings, farm-to-market roads, and various road infrastructures. Community members noted that these bottlenecks contributed to the widespread delays and inefficiencies in flood control plans.
Questionable Project Implementation in Sorsogon
Former legislator Andaya questioned the approval of a flood control project for a riverless plain in Sorsogon province. He expressed confusion over how several DPWH infrastructure projects in Sorsogon proceeded without COA flagging them. He pointed out the absurdity of starting a flood control project in Prieto Diaz town without an existing river, showing photos to emphasize the point.
Ironically, Andaya noted that Matnog, a town vulnerable to flooding, received no allocation for flood control, raising further concerns about project prioritization and allocation fairness.
Presidential and Senate Calls for Accountability
The spotlight on flood control plans intensified after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. condemned government officials and contractors during his fourth State of the Nation Address for allegedly pocketing kickbacks while Filipinos suffered from flooding during the rainy season. His remarks underscored the urgent need to address corruption in infrastructure projects.
Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson also warned that nearly half of the country’s almost P2 trillion allocated for flood control projects since 2011 might have been lost. He urged a thorough review of these projects to prevent further waste and ensure funds serve their intended purpose.
For more news and updates on flood control plans, visit Filipinokami.com.
