Bacolod City — A newly formed anti-corruption alliance, the Council of Concerned Citizens (CCC), vowed on Wednesday to investigate questionable flood control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the city.
The group is composed of church leaders, lawyers, engineers, scientists, and representatives of the activist group Bayan.
Lawyer Cesar Beloria Jr., one of the lead convenors, said that of the 39 flood control projects implemented between 2022 and 2024 with a total cost of P969 million, at least six projects worth P247 million raised suspicions. CCC Secretary General Lawyer Renecito Novero noted that these projects had identical budgets of P96.5 million each, despite differing in location, purpose, scope, and specifications.
Engineer Eugene Catalan of AGHAM Negros added that the lack of detailed project data raised further doubts. Priests Armand Onion and Mao Buenafe of the Diocese of Bacolod lamented that despite nearly P1 billion in flood control projects, floods continue to hit most parts of the city after just 30 to 60 minutes of rainfall. “There must be something seriously wrong in the projects or the use of funds,” Onion stressed.
Novero said the DPWH ignored repeated requests for project details he filed as a city councilor in 2023 and 2024. He warned that CCC will consolidate documents, validate information, and pursue legal action against those responsible. Bacolod Diocese Social Action Director Fr. Julius Espinosa added that corruption is worsening and “somebody should be accountable and imprisoned.” CCC said it will also expand its investigations to other government projects and soon launch a website and social media pages for citizens to send information and complaints.
