Marcos to issue EO on creation of independent commission for flood control projects

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said Monday that he would issue an Executive Order which will formally create the Independent Commission that will look into anomalies of flood control projects.

“Ah, yes. We are putting together the EO that will create the independent commission,” Marcos told reporters. 

“The independent commission will be the investigative arm, so that they will continue to investigate whatever information is received. It will be sent to them, they will investigate it, and they will make recommendations as to how to proceed, whether kasuhan itong mga ito or i-Ombudsman, o dalhin sa DOJ (charge them or file a complaint with the Omdbudsman or go to the DOJ), whatever it is, but they will recommend to the Executive what to do with certain parties who have been found to be part of all of this corruption that has been going on, not only in flood control. All of the workings within DPWH,” he added. 

Asked on who will lead the body, Marcos said it would depend on the commission’s structure, which has yet to be determined. 

“Well, we have very... It depends on how it's structured. Five members ba, seven members?  Sino maghe-head, sinong chair?  All of those things. So we haven't put the structure together yet.  But the names, I think... I mean it...” he said. 

Marcos said the body would need forensic investigators, lawyers, justices, and prosecutors who will look at the pieces of evidence on this anomalous flood control projects. 

“And they will put together that information and make the recommendation to either DOJ or the Ombudsman, depending on who is found to be liable for some of these nefarious activities,” Marcos said. 

The Presidential Communications Office earlier said the body would conduct a comprehensive review of projects, identify irregularities, and recommend accountability measures to ensure public trust in infrastructure spending. 

Marcos tasked newly designated Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon to conduct a "full organizational sweep" of the agency and ensure that public funds are used solely for infrastructure projects in the country. 

In a separate press briefing, Dizon said former DPWH chief Manuel ''Manny'' Bonoan would also be included in the investigation of the Independent Commission. 

''The independent commission will investigate everybody, so that is the order of the President. I mean, ano po ito, the people deserved accountability, iyon po ang sabi ng ating Pangulo (that's what the President said),'' Dizon said.

Insertions?

Meanwhile, Marcos mentioned that the budget of the DPWH needs to be cleaned out properly, saying that the proposed 2026 budget supposedly had some insertions.

''The more we look, the more we find. Kahit sa 2026 budget, marami pa ring siningit (there are insertions). So, talagang it’s a – it really needs to be cleaned out properly,'' Marcos said.

Earlier, Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno disclosed that several items in the 2026 National Expenditures Program (NEP) contained allocations for projects that have been finished already.

Asked for clarification on the matter, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said in a briefing that this issue should be coordinated and checked first with the DPWH. 

''Unang-una, huwag muna po tayong maging judgmental agad ‘di ba dahil kailangan po nila muna makipag-cooperate/makipag-coordinate sa DPWH at kung anuman iyong ahensiya na sinasabi nilang nagawa na iyong proyekto pero nandoon pa rin po iyong budget,'' Castro said.

(First of all, let's not be judgmental because they need first to coordinate with the DPWH as well as other concerned agencies.) 

''So, halimbawa na lamang po, example po natin ang Marikina River – kung may proyekto po diyan dapat eksakto po iyong coordinates, kung ano talaga iyong lokasyon dahil baka sa haba niyan eh ibang parte ay tapos na pero iyong ibang coordinates naman o ibang lokasyon ay hindi pa,'' she added.

(So, for example, the Marikina River, if there's a project, the coordinates must be exact to determine the location because maybe the other parts were not yet finished while the other locations are not yet completed.) 

The Palace official ensured that Marcos would not allow these supposed insertions.

''So, mas maganda pong makipag-coordinate at makipag-cooperate muna sila sa DPWH para malaman din po natin kung ang kanilang sinasabi na proyekto ay talagang natapos na. At kung talaga naman pong natapos na at ito ay isiningit sa 2026 budget, hindi po ito papayagan ng Pangulo,'' she said.

(So, it's better if this should be coordinated with the DPWH so we will know the projects that the agency has already finished. The President will not allow these insertions.)  — RSJ, GMA Integrated News