Delayed and sloppy work.

This is how President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. described flood control projects in Iloilo City in a visit.

In a post of the President on his official social media account, he did not mention a specific project, though. But he visited Sections 9 and 10 of a flood mitigation structure worth over P288 million in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro District.

The President also conducted an aerial inspection on projects in Lapuz District.

According to “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website, there is a slope protection project in Barangay Tabuc Suba, Jaro worth approximately P50 million. However, according to the barangay chairman, the project does not exist in the last three years.

Barangay Tabuc Suba Chairman Joel Jabonillo said that he knows of a structure extension in Barangay San Isidro but not about the slope protection project.

“2023 pa lang yan sinimulan, early 2023. Hanggang ngayon patuloy pa ang trabaho. Kung titingnan delayed na kasi ang completion date is 2023. Sobrang layo na,” Jabonillo said.

Thus, the President ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to put on blacklist the contractors handling delayed and sloppy flood mitigation projects in the city.

DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said a validation team will be sent to Iloilo City to check four controversial flood mitigation structures and other projects.

“Magkakaroon sila ng quality assurance unit team that will go there to check on these projects na palpak or non-existent. Kung may makita kami that would warrant blacklisting, then we will impose yung penalty,” Bonoan said.

Iloilo City Lone District Rep. Julienne Baronda who pushed for the projects backs the investigation. She said there are no such things as ghost projects in her district. 

“Welcome ang investigation to all infra projects, not only flood control projects dahil need natin ang transparency and accountability sa paggastos ng pera ng Iloilo. Dapat walang korapsyon,” Baronda said.

According to Ramon Beleno III, a political science professor at West Visayas State University, the investigation on flood control projects is questionable because it turns out that DPWH investigates itself.

He suggested that a third party should carry out the probe to achieve fair results.

“Most probably walang mangyayaring accountability diyan because they will actually save their own skin. Bubuo tayo ng investigator. Maybe binubuo ng civil society at yung mga prosecutors para talaga masasabi natin na sincere yung investigation,” Beleno stressed.