Marcos flags P350 billion in flood control projects lacking key details
MANILA, Philippines — Most flood control projects initiated since 2022 lack key details, with 6,021 out of 9,855 failing to specify the type of structures built, according to a probe President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered.
That figure amounts to 61.1% of the total, representing P350 billion in spending. The projects have a combined cost of about P545 billion, or roughly half a trillion pesos.
Findings made public. at a rare press conference on Monday, Marcos presented preliminary findings from the audit, including a list of projects and contractors.
"There are 6,021 projects worth more than 350 billion that do not specify the exact type of flood control that is being built. Then, many projects also in different locations have exactly the same contract cost," Marcos said on Aug. 8.
"It is impossible for one barangay, even if they are the next barangay, to have the exact same project to the exact same amount with the exact same contractor," he added.
Website for public scrutiny
Marcos also unveiled a website called "Sumbong sa Pangulo" (Complain to the President), where the public can search flood control projects by location, see ongoing works and costs, and click a large "report" button to flag concerns.
"I encourage everyone to look into this. And you know, say your piece. Kasi parang sinasabi ng mga iba, nakikita naman namin hindi maganda, pero wala naman kaming mapuntahan, wala naman kaming malapitan. Ngayon mayroon na. Ngayon mayroon na kayong malalapitan. Ito, ang lalapitan na ngayon ninyo ako mismo," Marcos said.
(I encourage everyone to look into this. And you know, say your piece. Like what the others say, we see what is not good, but we don't have anywhere to go. Now, there is. Now, you have someplace to go. Now, you go to me directly.)
Marcos vowed to personally review the complaints.
The president acknowledged that the probe could affect even those close to him. "We have to clean our ranks," he said.
Marcos ordered the audit in his fourth State of the Nation Address, linking corruption in flood control projects to the widespread flooding triggered by the southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones. He told officials he blamed for the problem to be ashamed of themselves.
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