ECHOES of the presidential order to subject all government officials to a lifestyle check continue to vibrate in the cerebrums of an angered and nearly hopeless population, whose kin and friends are staggering from unchecked rising floodwaters.
Press Undersecretary Claire Castro has said the President’s directive covers the entire executive department, starting with the Dept. of Public Works and Highways, the agency implementing and overseeing the multi-billion-peso projects he wanted investigated for alleged irregularities.
On the board, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has accepted the resignation of DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, appointed to the post on June 30, 2022, effective Sept 1, 2025, who expressed support for the President’s call for accountability, transparency and reform within the DPWH.
Immediately, President Marcos appointed Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon as the new DPWH Secretary, tasked him to conduct a full organizational sweep of the Department and ensure that public funds are used solely for infrastructure that truly protects and benefits the Filipino people.
Like many Filipinos, we hold our breath while watching this rigodon in the high echelons of government, while we wait, rather eagerly, what will happen when the sound bites die down and the Independent Commission to Investigate Flood Control Anomalies shall have gone beyond the pre-heat stage and gear up for work.
Under the President’s directive, this body will conduct a comprehensive review of projects, identify irregularities, and recommend accountability measures to ensure public trust in infrastructure spending.
These decisions are aimed at reflecting the administration’s firm resolve to clean up corruption, strengthen institutions, and deliver honest and effective public service.
We see the lifestyle check as a widening critical inspection of failed flood-control projects which have become “ghost projects” when successive typhoons lashed wide areas north and south of the capital and the capital itself in recent weeks.
A preliminary inquiry in August suggested the Philippines spent P545 billion ($9.5 billion) on flood management since 2022. when President Marcos began his Constitutionally-permitted term of six years, with 20 percent of the budget for flood control projects awarded to only 15 contractors nationwide.
The funds despite, several provinces, including the national capital region Metro Manila, were deluged in deep floodwaters in July, with over a month’s worth of rainfall recorded in the capital region of 13 million people in just four days.
We have seen President Marcos visit areas outside the capital where, in front of cameras, he flashed his “anger” over failed flood control projects and warned of “economic sabotage” charges against those involved in what turned out to be ghost projects.
The people have heard enough. And they want results straight away.
And they are waiting and watching how the independent body of investigators will give flesh and bones to the President’s directive to gather those accountable and punish them with sanctions under existing laws.
