FRESH VIEWPOINTS: A NEW PERSPECTIVE
By Brian James Lu
Local government units (LGUs) were shocked to learn that hundreds of flood control projects worth billions of pesos in their areas were carried out without their knowledge. Several provinces implemented dozens of similar projects, each costing billions of pesos, in the same manner. As investigators expose ghost and substandard projects, LGUs are now joining forces to demand that the national government agencies consult them on infrastructure projects that directly affect their communities.
In Quezon City, only two of 254 projects were approved by the LGU, while over PHP14 billion worth of flood control works bypassed local coordination. In Manila, Mayor Isko Moreno reported that about 200 projects had no permits at all. In Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, five flood control projects worth more than PHP1 billion cannot even be found. These cases reveal a clear pattern of ghost and substandard projects across provinces, strengthening the call of LGUs for national agencies to stop sidelining them and instead involve them in planning and implementing infrastructure projects.
In many parts of the country, LGU officials are now inspecting the infrastructure projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and its contractors after they were reported on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Sumbong sa Pangulo website. These projects are harming the lives, livelihoods, and education of many Filipinos.
Investigations revealed that a small group of contractors managed a significant portion of the flood control projects nationwide.
The President reported that an initial review showed 15 contractors cornered about PHP100 billion worth of projects, equal to 20 percent of the PHP545 billion fund for flood control from July 2022 to May 2025. This discovery raised doubts about how the projects were awarded and carried out. Some contracts lacked clear details, while others had exactly the same prices despite being in different locations. Congress has already questioned at least five of these nationwide contractors.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte was surprised to learn from the Sumbong sa Pangulo website that hundreds of DPWH projects were carried out without coordination with the city. This was despite the fact that in 2020, Quezon City passed Ordinance No. SP-2939, which requires all national government agencies, offices, and corporations to first coordinate with the city government before starting any project within its jurisdiction. This ordinance mandates that the Office of the Mayor issues a Certificate of Coordination prior to granting permits. This ensures public consultation, alignment with local development plans, and the protection of citywide systems before any work begins.
The lack of coordination by the DPWH has caused disruptions in communities and forced the displacement of Quezon City residents. I recall that during our meetings at the Quezon City Development Council, we adopted a master plan for the city’s drainage system. During these discussions, we found that some DPWH projects had been carried out without the city government’s knowledge. Now, the Quezon City LGU is compiling a complete list of all flood control projects implemented by the DPWH.
The city found that a PHP49-million retaining wall in Barangay Commonwealth had made the waterway narrower and shallower, increasing the risk of flooding during heavy rain. Quezon City Mayor Belmonte identified the Matalahib pumping station as a problematic DPWH project. She explained that the project, built in a “non-building area,” blocked natural water flow and worsened flooding. Mayor Belmonte said the city did not approve or support the Matalahib Creek Pumping Station Project. The Quezon City engineer stated that the project violates both the National Building Code and the Water Code of the Philippines—laws that should have been enforced by the DPWH.
The mayor suggested that DPWH remove the structure and instead use the PHP250 million budget to construct a detention basin, which would follow the city’s drainage master plan.
How a national government agency like the DPWH can carry out so many projects in the Philippines—or 254 projects in Quezon City alone—without coordinating with the LGUs still baffles me. Such impunity is alarming because it puts communities at risk, wastes public funds, and weakens local planning efforts. Without proper coordination, it becomes much harder to ensure that projects are safe, effective, and meet the needs of the people.
Mayor Joy Belmonte highlighted the importance of close coordination between LGUs and national agencies like the DPWH when carrying out infrastructure projects. She pointed out that without the city’s permits or approval, Quezon City implemented flood control projects worth over PHP14 billion. This failure to coordinate resulted in wasted funds and weak oversight, demonstrating how poor communication between agencies can lead to inefficiency and irregularities in public works.
The hearings in both the House of Representatives and the Senate have only begun to uncover the anomalies in flood control projects. While the President has announced plans to create an independent commission to investigate these projects, it is crucial that Congress continues its inquiries to keep the public informed. So far, the key actors behind these irregular projects are becoming visible. People are closely watching the actions of legislators, contractors, and government officials—not as a form of entertainment, but as a real test of accountability.
The fight against ghost and substandard flood control projects is not only about saving public funds—it is about protecting communities, safeguarding lives, and restoring trust in government. This will only be possible if the national government works hand in hand with LGUs, ensuring that every infrastructure project is properly coordinated with those who know the needs of their communities best. Every peso lost to corruption is a peso taken away from education, health, housing, and genuine flood protection. Only when we design projects with LGU participation, implement them with integrity, and align them with the people’s welfare can we achieve real progress. It is time to end impunity and make coordination, transparency, and accountability the foundation of all public works.
