Flood Control Projects Dominate Navotas Budget Focus
Navotas City Representative Toby Tiangco emphasized that flood control projects naturally receive a significant portion of the 2025 budget allocations for Navotas. Flooding remains the city’s most urgent concern, officials reported, making these projects essential for the community’s safety and welfare.
Tiangco responded to claims by a fellow lawmaker regarding alleged budget insertions. He clarified that Navotas, being below sea level and located downstream of the Tullahan River, faces unique flooding challenges. “Navotas is below sea level during high tide and lies downstream of the Tullahan River. This means, water during the high tide coming from the sea and the river is higher than the land of Navotas. Therefore, flooding is really the number one issue that needs to be addressed,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Understanding Navotas Flood Control Projects Importance
Tiangco highlighted how flooding impacts numerous aspects of daily life, including safety, health, livelihood, education, and local businesses. “That’s why flood control projects are so important because flooding affects many aspects of life—safety, health, livelihood, education, and businesses of each Navoteño,” he explained. He also assured that the local government has been transparent with residents regarding requests for national funds designated for flood control.
Allegations of Budget Insertions and Contractor Issues
These statements arose after Ako Bicol party-list Representative Alfredo Garbin accused Tiangco of questionable budget insertions. Garbin claimed that 65 to 70 percent of the P529 million Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) allocation for Navotas went to flood control and was allegedly downloaded to St. Timothy Construction Corp., a company linked to a contractor couple under investigation.
Garbin further identified Syms Construction Trading as another company involved, which was recently blacklisted by Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon over so-called “ghost” flood control projects. He also said the DPWH requested Tiangco’s assistance in facilitating these companies’ project implementations.
Tiangco Denies Involvement in Contractor Selection
However, Tiangco firmly denied any involvement in the bidding process or selection of contractors. “The crafting of the Program of Works and the bidding for projects is not part of our office’s role, and that is one thing I have never tried to meddle in. I don’t even ask DPWH who are the winning bidders for projects,” he said. He only inquired about contractors after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. released a list of the top 15 companies awarded flood control projects.
Tiangco added that the district engineer confirmed all projects were properly handled. He challenged Garbin by asking, “My question to him is, do these Top 15 contractors have no project in their area?” He also stressed that if any project issues surfaced, he would be the first to raise concerns, as he is not a contractor and has no personal gain.
Budget Transparency and Political Disputes
Garbin’s accusations were partly in response to Tiangco’s criticism of fellow Ako Bicol Representative Elizaldy Co, who allegedly inserted over P13 billion worth of allocations in the 2025 budget. Garbin clarified that some of the funds mentioned were not yet released and thus not under current investigation.
He pointed out that Tiangco himself has over half a billion in budget insertions, with most funds for flood control in Navotas. The controversy intensified as both St. Timothy Construction Corp. and Syms Construction Trading are subjects of congressional probes into anomalous flood control projects.
Calls for Accountability and Reform
Tiangco was among the lawmakers urging the House infrastructure committee to invite Co for questioning amid ongoing investigations. He presented evidence that party-lists affiliated with Co received billions in DPWH funds, including allocations for Barangay Health Workers represented by Co’s niece.
Since August, Tiangco has pressed for full disclosure of all budget amendments made by the appropriations committee, emphasizing the need for transparency and reform in government spending.
Presidential Condemnation and Government Response
The budget transparency debate and flood control project investigations follow President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s sharp criticism of officials and contractors allegedly profiting from flood-related projects. The President labeled such acts as shameful during his recent State of the Nation Address and released a list of contractors linked to faulty or nonexistent flood control works.
These developments underscore the critical importance of flood control projects for Navotas and the urgent need for accountability in government infrastructure spending.
For more news and updates on flood control projects, visit Filipinokami.com.
