A moment captured from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s presentation, as seen via RTVM screengrab.
An investigation into the government’s massive flood control spending has raised red flags, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. revealing that just 15 contractors have secured roughly P100 billion worth of projects since 2022 — nearly one-fifth of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) entire flood control budget over the period.
Speaking in Malacañang on Monday, Marcos questioned the concentration of contracts in the hands of a few companies, as well as the suspicious uniformity in costs for projects scattered across vastly different terrains.
“Many projects have identical contract prices, regardless of location or specifications. That’s not just unusual — it’s improbable,” the President said, adding that several projects in flood-prone areas seem outnumbered by those in places with lesser flood risk.
The big fifteen
From July 2022 to May 2025, the DPWH allocated P545.64 billion for flood control. The President named the top beneficiaries — including Legacy Construction Corporation, Alpha and Omega Gen. Contractor, St. Timothy Construction, and Sunwest Inc. — noting that together, they cornered a staggering P100 billion worth of contracts.
What’s more, data showed over 6,000 projects, worth more than P350 billion, failed to specify the type of flood control structure built. This lack of detail makes public oversight difficult and fuels concerns about transparency.
Mismatch in flood priorities
The data presented revealed a puzzling disparity: provinces like Bulacan, Cebu, and Isabela led in the number of flood control projects, yet Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, and Metro Manila — historically more flood-prone — ranked lower in project counts.
“You would expect the worst-hit areas to get the most protection,” Marcos noted. “We need to understand why that’s not the case.”
From audit to action
While refraining from naming government officials, Marcos hinted at possible systemic abuse. He has ordered a deeper probe into how these projects were awarded and monitored, saying it’s vital to “let the evidence speak” before pointing fingers.
The Palace has also launched “Sumbong sa Pangulo,” an online platform where citizens can view flood control projects and report anomalies. Marcos pledged to personally review every report submitted.
“There are good projects that help communities. But we must find and fix the ones that don’t deliver — or worse, never get built,” he said.
Rising budgets, rising questions
Flood control funding has ballooned since Marcos took office — from P128 billion in 2022 to nearly P248 billion in 2025. Yet, with parts of the country still reeling from heavy flooding during this year’s rainy season, critics are asking whether the surge in spending has delivered meaningful protection, or merely created a lucrative pipeline for a select few.
The President’s challenge now: prove to the public that the billions spent in their name are building more than just paper projects.