The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) faces intense scrutiny in the upcoming 2026 budget talks amid exposés of corruption in flood control projects nationwide. Agency officials reportedly colluded with contractors and even congressmen to manipulate multi-billion-peso contracts.

flood control projects nationwide. Agency officials reportedly colluded with contractors and even congressmen to manipulate multi-billion-peso contracts.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. disclosed on Monday that 15 contractors were linked to suspicious flood control deals. Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito confirmed that some corrupt DPWH personnel were involved, placing the agency’s integrity and the approval of its budget under serious question.

“There is collusion between the (DPWH) district offices and the contractors. Someone really needs to be held accountable. What’s alarming is that I received information that there are even ghost projects in flood control. It’s fine for contractors to earn money, but making ghost projects — that’s just shameless. It’s okay to earn, but they have to deliver what is due and what is prescribed and expected,” Ejercito said in Filipino at the Kapihan sa Senado on Monday.

This was aside from the earlier exposé of Senator Panfilo Lacson on “passing through” fees or toll-like payments in flood control projects involving congressmen and DPWH personnel.

Ejercito said the perennial problem of flooding will once again be scrutinized in the coming budget hearing, a frustrating scenario that has been happening every year.

“It feels like every year we have investigations on flooding in Central Luzon and Metro Manila, and it’s always the same story. With P350 billion — that’s about P1 billion a day — spent on this, we should be seeing real results by now. What we really need is to follow the master plan for flood control — the master plan itself, spillways, and water impounding. But it’s not being followed because everyone wants a piece of the flood control budget,” he said.

Ejercito said the DPWH is just like the floodwaters — “where there’s a hole, that’s where they’ll slip through.”

Bonoan should file for leave

The senator said it would be best if Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan took a leave of absence. But with his advanced age, Ejercito said it appears the secretary is just serving to leave a legacy.

“If the agency faces a lot of issues, usually the secretary takes a leave of absence. It’s the discretion of Secretary Bonoan or the President. But who’s to replace him if his people are not trustworthy? I am not seeing someone who is capable at this time. The people surrounding him, the asec, usec, director level, that’s where the corruption starts. Let’s reshuffle these officials regularly to avoid familiarity in their jobs,” he said.

Ejercito said that following the President’s exposé, heads must roll and the corrupt officials should be put behind bars.

“The problem is no one is afraid because no big fish gets caught. There’s always someone who gets away. There’s definitely collusion in this flood control mess. It’s an open secret that contractors are making money here, but what’s really frustrating is that, besides their kickbacks, they use substandard materials. Worst of all, there are ghost projects, and we keep getting reports about them. That kind of behavior belongs in hell. We’re not saints here, but please, let’s not be demons. That’s just too much; it’s pure evil,” Ejercito said.

Pumping stations rehab back to MMDA

Meanwhile, Ejercito aired doubts about the proposal of Senator Raffy Tulfo to designate the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) as the primary agency responsible for the rehabilitation of pumping stations in Metro Manila instead of the DPWH.

“The MMDA also has had issues in the past. We will see in the upcoming budget hearing if they are capable or deserving of maintaining the pumping stations. That was their (MMDA) job before, but it was transferred to the DPWH. We will find out,” Ejercito said.

During the courtesy call of MMDA chairman Romando Artes and other agency officials on Tulfo’s office on Monday, the senator learned the DPWH currently has the mandate and budget for the rehabilitation of pumping stations, while the MMDA directly oversees and operates them.

In filing Senate Bill 1168, Tulfo noted that the recent flooding in Metro Manila underscored the urgent need for legislative action.

Tulfo mentioned some non-functioning pumping stations in Metro Manila, like the Sunog de Apog pumping station which reportedly has never been operated since its completion, and the Vitas pumping station in Tondo which was supposedly rehabilitated by the DPWH even though it was not yet due for rehabilitation.

“The MMDA is more familiar with the condition of the pumping stations under its jurisdiction. Thus, it should have the authority to initiate rehabilitation works when it deems it necessary. The current bureaucratic setup could lead to delays, reducing the efficiency and capacity of critical flood control infrastructure during heavy rainfall,” he said.