President Marcos is not just building dikes and walls; he is building a system of integrity and quality
IN MY years leading civic and patriotic organizations, I have seen our country grapple with countless challenges. But few are as heartbreaking as seeing our people battered by floods, only to discover that the very infrastructure meant to protect them was built on a foundation of shoddy work and corruption.
That is why I fully support President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s firm and decisive actions in inspecting flood control projects. His on-site visits, particularly in Bulacan – one of our most flood-prone provinces – show he will not tolerate negligence or the betrayal of public trust.
I was particularly struck by the President’s inspection in Calumpit, Bulacan, where he exposed a level of deceit that is frankly infuriating. At Barangay Bulusan, more than 200 meters of a supposedly “completed” river protection structure was simply never built.
He even sent divers down to find what was hidden below the surface: thin, uneven concrete and dangerous gaps in the structure. This isn’t just an oversight; it’s a criminal act that endangers lives.
The President’s response was sharp and direct. He demanded accountability, telling those responsible, “They must explain why this is how they built it. It would serve them well to come here and feel how hard life is for our countrymen because of their actions.”
This isn’t just a political statement; it’s a clear promise to our people that he will not let this slide.
The same story unfolded at Barangay Frances, where a ₱77.1 million project was found to have poor-quality materials and incomplete work, despite being listed as finished. Following these inspections, the Commission on Audit ordered a fraud audit of all flood control projects in the province. This is the kind of swift, meaningful action we need.
I also commend Governor Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor of Oriental Mindoro for bravely exposing similar issues in his province. He brought to light collapsed dikes and misused funds, appealing directly to the President for justice.
President Marcos’s approach combines this demand for accountability with tangible aid, releasing funds to help affected farmers and instructing agencies to create a master plan that is climate-resilient and data-driven.
This is what true leadership looks like. President Marcos is not just building dikes and walls; he is building a system of integrity and quality. He is fulfilling his promise to his people, and he is actively working to cleanse our government of corruption.
This fight, however, is not his alone. Every single Filipino has a stake in this. A single botched dike is a direct threat to a family’s home. Every peso lost to corruption is a peso that could have put food on someone’s table.
The President has made his stance clear: there is no room for thieves or saboteurs in his administration.
Now, it is our turn to stand with him. We must unite in this crusade, expose the dishonest, and condemn the incompetent.
We must support a president who has the courage to fight corruption head-on. Because this is more than just politics—it is about the survival, dignity, and justice of every single Filipino.
(The author, who holds an LLB, master’s in public administration, master’s in national security administration and a doctorate in philosophy, is Chairman Emeritus of Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya, Peoples Alliance for Democracy and Reforms, Liga Independencia Pilipinas and Filipinos Do Not Yield Movement.)
