Government leader promises action against individuals breaching Bulacan flood control project rules
In a recent visit to Calumpit, Bulacan, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expressed his concern over the deteriorating flood control infrastructure and vowed to take decisive action against those responsible for the poor state of the structures.
The president pointed to the concrete deterioration of the flood mitigation structure in Barangay Frances, constructed by Wawao Builders, as a result of the contractors' failure to comply with project specifications. Similarly, the river protection structure in Barangay Bulusan, built by St. Timothy Construction Corporation, was also found to be substandard.
Both St. Timothy Construction Corporation and Wawao Builders are among the top 15 contractors that secured most of the flood control projects nationwide, receiving a total of about P100 billion. Other top contractors on this list include Alpha & Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp., St. Gerrard Construction, Elite General Contractor and Development Corp., St. Matthew General Contractor & Development, Great Pacific Builders and General Contractors, and more.
The president flagged the work of these two contractors as substandard after on-site inspections revealed premature concrete deterioration and failure to meet project specifications. Specific issues included declared-completed flood control and river protection structures that visually showed incomplete or poor-quality work.
A key problem was that desiltation and dredging were reportedly marked as finished in contracts, but physical evidence showed ongoing sedimentation. For example, grass is growing on the islands in the river, signaling a lack of actual dredging.
President Marcos described some projects as potential economic sabotage and outright fraud, highlighting difficulties in locating official contracts and suspected subcontractor layering that obscures accountability. The Senate has begun investigating these issues, including subpoenaing owners of these top contractors after many failed to attend initial hearings on flood control project irregularities.
Marcos expressed dismay over the contractors' false claims regarding the completion of dredging and desilting works. He stated that those responsible for the poor condition of the infrastructure, whether from the government or the private sector, must be held accountable for their actions. The president emphasised the importance of ensuring the integrity of flood control projects, as they are crucial in protecting communities from the devastating effects of floods.
[1] [2] [4] [5] (Sources)
- The Senate is investigating the substandard work of top contractors like St. Timothy Construction Corporation and Wawao Builders, which have received significant funds for flood control projects nationwide, due to concerns raised by President Marcos over poor infrastructure and potential economic sabotage.
- In this ongoing scrutiny of flood control project irregularities, President Marcos has emphasized the need for accountability, highlighting the significance of maintaining the integrity of these projects to protect communities from flood disasters.
