FOLLOWING THE recent typhoons that caused flooding across the country, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has ordered an investigation into the government’s flood control projects as he condemned corrupt officials who pocket funds through such programs.
In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Marcos cited the country’s poor state of flood control infrastructure as an example of corruption.
Marcos called out collapsed structures and claimed the existence of “ghost projects” or projects that exist only on paper.
“Mahiya naman kayo sa mga kabahayan nating naanod at nalubog sa mga baha, mahiya naman kayo lalo sa mga anak natin na magmamana sa mga utang na ginawa ninyo sa mga binulsa ninyong pera,” he said on Monday, July 28, at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City, as he received cheers and a standing ovation from the crowd.
(Shame on you for letting our countrymen suffer from the flooding, shame on you for passing down the burden to the children who will inherit the damage you have caused from pocketing funds.)
“‘Wag na po tayong magkunwari. Alam naman ng madla, nagkaka-racket sa mga proyekto. Mga kickback, mga initiative, errata, SOP for the boys. Kaya sa mga nakikipagsabwatan upang kunin ang pondo ng bayan at nakawin ang kinabukasan ng mga mamamayan, mahiya naman kayo sa inyong kapwa Pilipino.”
(Let us stop pretending. The public knows, there is racketeering in projects. Kickbacks, initiatives, errata, SOP for the boys. So to those who conspire to take the public’s funds and steal the future of the people, you should be ashamed of your fellow Filipinos.)
Marcos directed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to submit a full list of flood control projects started and completed in the last three years, adding that the list would be published for the public’s evaluation.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported a total of 31 deaths due to the impact of the southwest monsoon or habagat, on top of tropical cyclones ‘Crising,’ ‘Dante’ and ‘Emong.’ The damages were reported at P6,500,351,557 for infrastructure, P510,305,972 for agriculture, and P281,660,000 for irrigation systems.
Marcos tasked the DPWH’s regional project monitoring committee to review the list and determine which projects were completed, which failed, and which were “ghost projects,” or were never implemented.
“Isasapubliko natin ang listahang ito, kaya ang publiko na saksi sa mga proyektong ito ay malayang suriin ang listahan at magbahagi ng kanilang nalalaman para sa ating imbestigasyon,” he said.
(We will publicize this list, so the people, who are witness to these projects, can freely assess the list and provide their own knowledge for our investigation.)
The Chief Executive also vowed to audit and pursue charges against erring government officials and contractors.
“Sa mga susunod na buwan, makakasuhan ang lahat ng mga lalabas na may sala mula sa imbestigasyon, pati na ang mga kasabwat na mga kontratista sa bansa. Kailangan malaman ng taumbayan ang buong katotohanan. Kailangang may maging managot sa naging pinsala at katiwalian,” he said.
(In the following months, everyone found guilty from the investigation will be charged, including the involved contractors. The countrymen have to know the truth. Someone has to be held accountable for the corruption.)
Veto warning over 2026 budget
Marcos also warned that he would reject any budget bill that was not aligned with the government’s National Expenditure Program (NEP) for next year.
Crafted by the President, the NEP is submitted to the Congress for approval to form the General Appropriations Act.
On July 15, Presidential Communications Office undersecretary Claire Castro announced that Marcos had approved the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for fiscal year 2026.
“For the 2026 national budget, I will return any proposed general appropriations bill that is not fully aligned with the national expenditure program,” he said during his SONA.
“I am willing to do this even if we end up with an reenacted budget. Hindi ko aaprubahan ang kahit anong budget na hindi alinsunod sa plano ng gobyerno para sa sambayanang Pilipino.”
(I will not approve any budget that is not aligned with the plan of the government for all Filipinos.)
Last year, the President vetoed around P26 billion worth of programs and projects of the DPWH, 95 of which were for flood control. F
