President Marcos Demands Explanation on River Protection Structure
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called for a thorough explanation from St. Timothy Construction Corp. regarding the alleged failed rehabilitation of a river protection structure in Barangay Bulusan, Bulacan. The issue surfaced during an inspection that revealed discrepancies between official reports and the actual state of the project.
Inspection Reveals Incomplete River Protection Structure
Accompanied by Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon and Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando, the President visited the site on Friday. They discovered that the river protection structure was far from complete, contradicting government records that claimed the project had been finished.
“More than 200 meters [of revetment] were not built. It wasn’t put in place, then it was damaged—destroyed. Nothing was really installed, but if you look at our report, it says this should have already been completed,” President Marcos said in Filipino during a brief interview with the media.
He further added, “This dike is actually full of holes. It should be intact because our report says it’s completed.”
Flooding Persists in Barangay Bulusan, Raising Concerns
The President expressed frustration over the persistent flooding in parts of Barangay Bulusan caused by rains from the southwest monsoon three weeks prior. He described the affected area as resembling a “swamp,” emphasizing the urgency of addressing the issue effectively.
“St. Timothy is the contractor here, so we’ll look into this… we need to hold them accountable and ask why they did it this way,” Marcos said in Filipino. He urged the contractor to personally visit the site to witness the difficulties faced by local residents.
Moreover, President Marcos encouraged residents living near the river to report any irregularities they observe in the structure through the government’s Sumbong sa Pangulo website.
Links to Contractors Raise Questions on Flood-Control Projects
On the same day the President disclosed the initial findings of the government’s review of flood-control projects under his administration, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto revealed that two of the top 15 contractors awarded the bulk of these projects have connections to the businesses of his former political rival, Sarah Discaya.
One of these contractors is St. Timothy Construction Corp., the firm currently under scrutiny for the incomplete river protection structure in Bulacan.
Officials reported that attempts to reach Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II, Sarah Discaya’s husband, for comment have so far been unsuccessful.
For more news and updates on river protection structure, visit Filipinokami.com.
