MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a sweeping investigation into alleged corruption in the government’s flood control projects, vowing that “no one will be spared” regardless of political connections.
Speaking at Malacañang earlier this week, Marcos said the probe will cover infrastructure projects from national agencies down to local governments, after reports of substandard or incomplete flood control systems despite billions in allocated funds.
“The people deserve accountability. We cannot allow public money to be wasted while communities suffer during floods,” Marcos said. “This investigation will reach all levels, and no one will be spared.”
Billions in Projects, Persistent Flooding
Flood control has been a major budget item in recent years, with allocations ballooning to over ₱200 billion across the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other agencies. Despite the spending, many areas in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao continue to experience devastating floods, with critics pointing to corruption, mismanagement, and political patronage in awarding contracts.
A Commission on Audit (COA) report last year flagged at least 3,000 delayed or questionable projects. Whistleblowers have also alleged that lawmakers and contractors colluded to inflate costs and leave projects unfinished.
Independent Body to Lead Probe
According to Malacañang, the administration will create an independent inter-agency task force, composed of the Department of Justice, Office of the Ombudsman, and the COA, to audit ongoing projects and file cases where anomalies are found.
Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla said the probe will prioritize flood-prone areas like Bulacan, Pampanga, Metro Manila, and parts of Mindanao that were hardest hit by recent typhoons.
Political Ripples
The announcement is expected to rattle Congress, as past reports linked several lawmakers to construction firms benefiting from DPWH contracts. Opposition figures welcomed the probe but cautioned against “selective justice.”
Senator Risa Hontiveros said in a statement:
“This is long overdue. But the credibility of this probe depends on whether allies of the administration will also be held accountable.”
Citizens Demand Change
Civil society groups have called for transparency in the investigation, with some planning nationwide protests on September 21 to coincide with the anniversary of Martial Law. Organizers say they want to highlight not just corruption, but also the real-life impact of failed flood control on communities — lost homes, livelihoods, and lives.
For many Filipinos, the probe is a test of whether the government can deliver both justice and safer infrastructure in a time of worsening climate risks.
