Marcos wants contractor to explain unfinished Bulacan flood control project

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday demanded an explanation from a contractor why it failed to complete the repair of a river protection structure in Calumpit, Bulacan.

The President wants answers from St. Timothy Construction Corp. after visiting the project site in Barangay Bulusan and found that the structure is still unfinished, contrary to what official records indicated.

St. Timothy is one of the top three contractors that secured the majority of the government’s flood control projects.

GROUNDED President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. inspects the P77.1-million flood mitigation structure in Calumpit, Bulacan, after visiting the P96.4-million rehabilitation of the River Protection Structure also in Calumpit on Aug. 15, 2025. The inspection comes after the President himself exposed the irregularities in the government’s P545-billion flood control programs covering 9,855 projects from July 2022 to May 2025. PHOTO BY MARK BALMORES/PPA POOL

It won the P96.4-million contract to rehabilitate the river protection structure at Bulusan.

Based on the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website, the contract was awarded to the St. Timothy on Feb. 18, 2022, and the project was to have been completed on Feb. 12, 2023.

“We have pictures and even divers who inspected the underside. And it’s confirmed that the cement is very thin and uneven throughout. The work is clearly substandard. It was really bound to fail and has already collapsed. So, they have to answer why it’s like this,” Marcos said in Filipino to reporters.

“What possible excuse do they have for not doing this? I cannot imagine. Furthermore, all flood control projects include dredging and desiltation. But what was I told? That they have never once seen any desiltation done here. That is part of the contract,” he added.

The President was also dismayed that parts of Barangay Bulusan had become a “swamp” because floodwaters from monsoon rains three weeks ago had not receded.

“St. Timothy is the contractor, so we will look into it. They need to answer why this happened. We need to hold them accountable and ask why they did it this way,” Marcos said.

“It would be better if they came here themselves to see the hardship they’ve caused our fellow citizens,” he said.

Marcos was accompanied to Bulusan by Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon and Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando.

The President also inspected the flood control structure in Barangay Frances in Calumpit, Bulacan.

Valued at P77.1 million, it was constructed by Wawao Builders, identified as one of the top 15 contractors, with a total of 58 flood control projects.

In a press conference before the visit, Marcos highlighted irregularities related to the government’s flood control programs, consisting of 9,855 projects completed from July 2022 to May 2025 and funded by the P545-billion budget.

Bulacan has the most flood control projects, with 668 projects worth about P6.5 billion, despite the province not being listed as a flood-prone area.

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto earlier disclosed that two of the top 15 contractors that cornered the bulk of flood control projects were linked to the businesses of his former political rival, Sarah Discaya. One of these companies is St. Timothy.

Earlier this week, the President also inspected a flood control project in Barangay San Isidro, Jaro.

On Friday, a team from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Central Office’s Quality Assurance Unit (QAU) arrived in Iloilo City to assess the projects implemented by the Iloilo City District Engineering Office.

The team is composed of personnel from the Bureau of Quality and Safety, the Bureau of Construction and the Bureau of Design.

Three storms in July triggered heavy flooding in several barangay (villages) in Iloilo. Local officials complained that floodwaters, which used to be only ankle-deep, reached chest level in certain areas after the projects were built.

Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas, who met with the QAU team, said the city government is ready to provide all necessary documents and information for the investigation.

Treñas earlier suggested demolishing flood structures that do not serve their purpose, and if they worsen flooding.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan also acknowledged Treñas’ suggestion to halt the projects in Mohon, Arevalo, and Tagbak, Jaro.

“We just need to have a valid reason why we should not implement the project,” he said.

Bonoan said the DPWH’s regional and local offices have three days to address and validate reports received through the President’s complaint website for the list of flood projects.

During a forum in San Juan City on Friday, architect and urban planner Felino Palafox Jr. challenged the country’s leaders to embrace long-term planning and root out corruption in infrastructure projects, warning that the country’s short-term political mindset has stalled development for decades.

Palafox stressed the importance of planning that extends beyond the election terms of mayors, governors or presidents, noting that many projects fail because they are tied to political calendars rather than long-term needs.

Citing successful examples, he pointed to developments in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Bulacan, Batangas City, Pampanga, Metro Davao and Clark. “Mga projects namin ’yun,” he said, identifying collaborations with the Department of Transportation, Clark Development Corp. and Clark International Airport Corp.

The projects were completed “with no red tape, no corruption” and served as proof that efficient, transparent processes are possible in the Philippines, he said.

“It can be done here. It has been done here,” he said.

Turning to flood control, Palafox outlined structural and systemic obstacles that undermine ongoing projects. These include parallel drainage systems that fail to complement each other, accumulated garbage clogging waterways and persistent inundation along rivers and estuaries.

“Are the current measures sufficient, or is it time for a stronger, faster and more integrated solution?” he asked, warning that piecemeal approaches would leave many areas vulnerable to future disasters.

Palafox reiterated his vision for the Philippines to become a “first world country by 2040” and a “first world economy by 2050,” adding that his team has consistently been putting forward recommendations to achieve these goals.

He called on national and local governments to act decisively, enforce accountability and cultivate a culture of ethical leadership.

“Agency na walang korapsyon,” he said, stressing that clean governance, visionary planning and active citizenship are key to creating livable cities and sustainable communities.