President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday, Aug. 11, revealed that 20% of the P545 billion spent on flood control projects since July 2022—about P100 billion—went to only 15 contractors.
Citing a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) review, Marcos Jr. said there were 2,409 contractors nationwide, yet five of the 15 received projects in almost every region. He ordered a deeper audit to determine why such a large share went to so few firms.
“This is a very big number,” he said, noting that as a former governor, he preferred hiring local contractors for faster, more coordinated work.
The President urged the public to share information, stressing that these are only preliminary findings and no accusations have been made.
To recall, Marcos Jr. ordered the audit during his July 28 SONA, condemning corruption that leaves communities vulnerable to floods.IMT
