Skinning crocs

Calls for an independent audit of flood control projects by an independent body — either the Commission on Audit or a private accountant — are snowballing.

The proposal is for a thorough examination of the budget items related to flood control, examining them as extensively as state auditors did in their review of the lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) from 2007 to 2009.

The audit exposed the pork barrel that led the Supreme Court in 2013 to declare unconstitutional the PDAF and other similar schemes that created discretionary funds for Congress.

The pork barrel has evolved into budget insertions, primarily for flood-control projects, which, when totaled, exceed the PDAF allocations. The situation gets worse as some elected officials are themselves contractors.

Senator Ping Lacson said a lawmaker-friend, whom he did not name, revealed that in 2022, 67 House members were also contractors for public projects. A Senate bill was recently filed to ban government officials and their kin from bidding for contracts, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (SoNA), where he ranted against corrupt practices in anti-flood projects.

Budget watchdogs, with the support of some members of Congress, are now calling on the government not to stop with the “Mahiya naman kayo” outburst of the President but to follow it up with an investigation.

Although the Supreme Court outlawed the pork barrel in 2013, allegations of budget insertions persist, underscoring the need for systemic reforms.

Watchdog groups are baffled by how legislators can participate in the bidding for projects, considering the strict requirements under the procurement law.

Yet, flood control projects have been favored as conduits for lump sums due to the enormous amounts involved and the difficulty in assessing the projects.

Only recently have questions been raised about the vast amounts invested in such projects and the recurring crises that occur during downpours, paralyzing cities for days.

President Marcos has since ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to submit a list of all flood control projects in the past three years, signaling a crackdown on irregularities.

The going estimate is that as much as P2 trillion has been lost to graft since 2011, highlighting the scale of the problem, with funds often diverted to ghost projects or substandard work.

The amount went to congressmen, district engineers and other regional officials who shared the kickbacks on infrastructures. DPWH engineers are often political nominees.

One of the hypocrites in Congress said an investigation will be conducted to look into allegations of what is termed by graft syndicates as SOP (standard operating procedure) in which 30 to 40 percent of the project amount goes to kickbacks.

The House member said the probe would be conducted to determine if such an arrangement exists — like he was born yesterday.

Ending graft would have to start with the acceptance by Congress that corruption flows from the chamber and thereafter spreads throughout the government.

Without this admission, the public will merely be treated to the occasional spectacle of watching crooks give a standing ovation to speeches that highlight the blatant irregularities in Congress.

The crocs’ hides have been thickened by years of greed.