Amid Corruption Allegations, Mayors Demand Transparency in Flood Control Projects

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong

Amid Corruption Allegations, Mayors Demand Transparency in Flood Control Projects

By Wilma N. Yamzon – TheNationWeek.Com | August 19, 2025

MANILA, Philippines – A coalition of mayors is demanding the release of the names of politicians and contractors implicated in the alleged corrupt flood control projects, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for an investigation into the issue.

Triggered by widespread public frustration over ineffective flood control measures despite billions in taxpayers’ money spent, the Mayors for Good Governance urged government agencies, particularly the Department of Public Works and Highways, to disclose detailed information about the flood projects.

This includes work programs, cost analyses, feasibility studies, and the identities of those responsible.

“Flood control initiatives have been in place for decades, yet in recent years, the level of corruption associated with these projects has become increasingly alarming, widespread, and systematic,” the coalition declared in a statement.

It stressed the need for severe punishment for those found guilty of misappropriating public funds.

The demand for transparency came after Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, a key figure in exposing the issue, highlighted the involvement of lawmakers in poorly executed infrastructure and flood control projects.

He and other mayors, like Vico Sotto of Pasig City and Joy Belmonte of Quezon City, have endorsed the group’s call.

Presidential Scrutiny, Disparities

The President himself acknowledged the problem during his State of the Nation Address.

He announced possessing a list of individuals responsible for project failures, hinting at their notoriety and long-standing involvement in such practices.

Further fueling concerns, Marcos revealed a list of 9,855 DPWH flood control projects from July 2022 to May 2025 and expressed alarm that a staggering P100 billion, or 20% of the total P545 billion allocated funds, was awarded to just 15 out of 2,409 accredited contractors.

“This may be uncomfortable. Some individuals close to us might be implicated in these irregularities. However, the public’s welfare is our top priority,” Marcos said.

He vowed for a thorough probe into the anomalous flood projects, saying “no one will be spared.”

On-Site Evidence of Substandard Workmanship

The President’s commitment was highlighted during a recent inspection of a rehabilitated dike in Calumpit, Bulacan, a town frequently ravaged by floods.

Marcos also expressed frustration over the “irregular and sloppy” workmanship of the concrete embankment along the Pampanga River.

He specifically called out St. Timothy Construction Corp., one of the 15 contractors on his list, demanding accountability for the P96.4 million project completed just months before.

Adding to the controversy, mayors lamented the lack of coordination and consultation on flood control projects within their jurisdictions.

Some projects, they claimed, have been implemented without local government approval, rendering these incompatible with local development plans.