Manila, Philippines — During his 2025 State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pointed out the corruption scheme behind flood control projects—with some of them substandard or totally ghost projects that worsened the flooding incidents in the country.
This led to a nationwide investigation on flood control projects within the country, eventually disclosing the alleged collusion between government contractors, officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways, and some lawmakers receiving kickback from these projects.
Presently, there are some personalities under trial after being implicated in the controversy, while some seemingly forgotten.
November last year, ACT Teachers Partylist Representative Antonio Tinio revealed alleged P4 billion overpriced and overlapping flood control projects in Davao and Matina Rivers, under Congressman Paolo “Pulong” Duterte’s district.
The said anomaly has been referred to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure and to the House of Representative for an inquiry, but no investigation was conducted.
With this, Tinio appealed before the Ombudsman to conduct an investigation regarding alleged anomalies in Davao projects.
Tinio cited data from the DPWH, noting 121 flood control projects worth P6 billion allotted for Davao and Matina Rivers alone in 2019-2022.
Based on their analysis, Tinio said that 80 of these contracts, amounting to P4,4 billion, are red-flags and anomalous, hence, requiring an investigation.
Tinio emphasized that anomalies in flood control projects are not only limited to teh current administration.
Some may have occurred during the past administration as well.
He added that Duterte as District congressman has a responsibility and is accountable for such anomalies, if proven in the investigation.—Mia Layaguin, Eurotv News