By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. directed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DWPH), local government units (LGUs), and the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) to continuously audit and review all flood control projects in the country, as part of his commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in government spending.
The President made the directive following an inspection of the Flood Mitigation Structure Sections 9 and 10 Project in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro, Iloilo City, prior to the inauguration of an upgraded Philippine Fisheries Development Authority-Iloilo Fish Port Complex (PFDA-IFPC) in Barangay Baybay Tanza on Wednesday.
During the visit, Marcos assessed the progress of the construction of the flood control project that falls under the jurisdiction of the DPWH Iloilo City District Engineering Office (ICDEO).
“Sa aking pagbisita sa Iloilo [City], nakita natin ang mga delayed at palpak na flood control projects na lalo pang nagpapalala ng pagbaha,” he said in a Facebook post.
The Chief Executive then instructed the DPWH to hold accountable and blacklist the contractors behind the bungled projects.
He also called on the public to report any anomalous flood control project in their localities via the sumbongsapangulo.ph website, which was launched Monday.
“Sa ating mga kababayan, kasama kayo sa laban kontra katiwalian at pagbaha,” Marcos stressed. “Sama-sama tayong kumilos para sa mas ligtas na Bagong Pilipinas.”
In a Facebook post, Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas thanked the President for personally inspecting the DWPH-ICDEO’s flood control projects in their city, expressing support for the ongoing investigation into the projects and its contractors.
Treñas stressed that the Iloilo City Government had already advised the DPWH-ICDEO to ensure proper coordination with them and secure necessary permits before beginning the project.
The local chief executive previously disclosed that two of the Top 15 contractors for flood control projects nationwide—which were revealed by Marcos during the launch of the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” platform—handle four major projects in Iloilo City.
The projects, Treñas said, are “either non-functional, have caused flooding, or are, in some cases, practically non-existent.”
“We are calling on the National Government to stop unnecessary flood control projects like Mohon, Tagbak, and others that do not effectively address flooding,” she said, urging the government to use its funds on projects that directly benefit every Filipino.
-jpv
