29/08/2025
Philippine Flood-Control Corruption—A Betrayal of Public Trust
The recent revelations about systemic corruption in flood-control projects represent more than just financial crime—they expose a deep betrayal of public trust, and illustrate how governance failures can have catastrophic human and economic consequences.
Senator Panfilo Lacson’s findings are stark: over the past 15 years, as much as ₱2 trillion has been allocated for flood management, yet he estimates that ₱1 trillion may have been lost to corruption, with only about 40% of project budgets being utilized for actual construction
This massive leakage has occurred despite persistent flooding that continues to wreak havoc across the country, underscoring that the spike in government spending hasn’t translated into real-world resilience.
Lacson revealed a chilling pattern: budget allocations are channeled into overpriced or ghost projects—either poorly built, repeatedly repaired to inflate costs, or never built at all.
Mechanisms like the “passing‑through/parking fee,” where 5–6% of project costs go to lawmakers or their proxies; additional kickbacks to DPWH officials; and contractor-arranged “reseta” bribes further shrank the funds reaching legitimate works.
Consequently, contractors are forced to use inferior materials or skimp on essential engineering—rendering the finished structures dangerously substandard.
Ghost Projects: When Infrastructure Is Fiction
Nowhere is this more visible than in Bulacan. Senator Lacson highlighted “ghost” flood-control structures—listed as completed in official records but physically nonexistent when inspected.
President Marcos also confirmed that 15 contractors cornered about ₱100 billion worth (20%) of flood-control contracts, further concentrating power and diminishing accountability.
Five among these firms leased their licenses to others—sidestepping procurement laws to bag contracts despite questionable capacity.
Audits, Accountability, and Public Pressure
In response, the Commission on Audit, under Gamaliel Cordoba, has launched a fraud audit of flood-control projects in Bulacan (covering 2022 to mid-2025), deploying technical inspections, geo-tagged images, and thorough verification.
President Marcos has also pledged transparency: releasing detailed lists of projects for public scrutiny and ordering lifestyle checks on DPWH officials.
Across the country, local leaders—from Iloilo mayors to coalition advocates—are demanding open access to project data: contractors, unit costs, feasibility studies, and more.
Senators B**g Go and Erwin Tulfo have demanded accountability: urging criminal charges and calling for reform to ensure flood-control budgets benefit communities—not the corrupt elite.
Why This Matters?
This scandal strikes at the heart of governance. Flood-control should be a lifeline for vulnerable communities—particularly during typhoons and monsoon seasons—but instead, it has become a conduit for theft. The misuse of billions of pesos is not only a financial crime—it’s a moral outrage that leaves citizens exposed to devastation.
Yet, real change is still possible. The current public scrutiny, legislative and executive action, and growing civic pressure provide a roadmap for institutional reform. For meaningful progress, there must be:
Transparent public disclosure of all flood-control projects—including cost breakdowns and implementation status.
Independent, technically-grounded audits and swift accountability for those found complicit.
Procurement reform to dismantle monopolistic contractor networks, ensuring fair access for capable firms.
Citizen-led monitoring, from civil society to local media and communities, holding officials accountable.
The corruption in flood-control is not an abstract problem—it’s a crisis with real consequences for the Filipino people. Yet, within this darkness lies a spark of hope. If policy makers and citizens alike insist on transparency and integrity, demand justice, and rebuild institutional systems, the Philippines can turn this scandal into a turning point.
