The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee escalated its investigation Tuesday by ordering subpoenas against contractors, who skipped its first hearing on flood control projects.
During the session, Senate Majority Leader and committee chairman Rodante Marcoleta approved Senator Ronald dela Rosa’s motion to issue subpoenas that will compel absent contractors to answer critical questions in the next session.
“The root of the issue before us boils down to the rampant corruption entangled within the core of our government, like a cancer that is gradually destroying our country,” said Marcoleta.
Following the roll call, the committee revealed that invitations were sent to 15 contractors, yet only 11 responded and just seven were represented in the hearing.
“I just hope this is not a sign of disinterest on their part because this meeting is called precisely to get to the bottom of this problem,” he said.
The contractors under scrutiny include Legacy Construction, Alpha & Omega General Contractor, St. Timothy Construction, QM Builders, EGB Construction, Topnotch Catalyst, Centerways Construction, Sunwest, Hi-Tone Construction, Triple 8 Construction, Royal Crown Monarch, Wawao Builders, MG Samidan, L.R. Tiqui Builders, and Road Edge Trading & Development.
Marcoleta lamented that billions of pesos are wasted annually on incomplete or ineffective projects, leaving lives and property exposed to rising floodwaters.
He noted that five of the top 15 contractors hold flood control projects in nearly all regions, raising alarm over contract concentration.
Senator Raffy Tulfo likened the billions in flood control funds to a carcass being chopped and cooked in the marketplace.
Tulfo outlined a scenario where a proponent receives ₱20 billion from national, bicameral, and program appropriations, with portions diverted through regional offices before reaching actual projects.
He explained that contractors typically earn up to 60 percent of allocated funds while only 40 percent reaches the intended flood control project.
“Payments are made to contractors and proponents even before the project is completed, accompanied by falsified accomplishment reports; this is just an example of how flood control funds are being siphoned,” he said.
Senator Erwin Tulfo, meanwhile, described ₱545.64 billion spent on flood control as a national robbery, emphasizing that commissions and kickbacks reduce project budgets and produce substandard or ghost projects.
He said the system spans politicians, undersecretaries, regional directors, district engineers, and project engineers, each skimming between two and five percent from project funds.
“We cannot hide behind technicalities anymore. Names must be named. Heads must roll. The Filipino people are tired of endless excuses and lies while corruption continues to thrive,” the senator said.
Tulfo said ghost projects are the reason why many billionaires in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) own airplanes and multi-million-peso mansions in expensive subdivisions in Metro Manila.
“This committee must not only expose the truth but also ensure that those guilty are punished, whether they are past or present officials, contractors, or protectors in higher office,” he assured.
Senator Bam Aquino welcomed the investigation, noting that flood control budgets far exceed allocations for critical areas like classrooms.
He questioned why some flood-prone areas receive insufficient support while other regions with minimal risk receive large projects.
“In the end, when there’s flooding, the most vulnerable among us, the ones most affected, are the farmers, the workers, our employees, the students, the youth, and our fellow citizens who have to wake up every day, go to work, and still wade through the floodwaters,” the senator lamented.
Aquino urged the committee to redirect funds from unnecessary flood control projects to urgent needs such as education infrastructure.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian warned DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan against maintaining business-as-usual practices in the 2026 flood control budget of ₱274 billion.
“We will not hesitate to zero this out and just allocate it to schools if this flood control project turns out to be ineffective and yields no results,” he said.
