Flood control mess reaches Iloilo

Following the exposé of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. enumerating the 15 companies that cornered multi-billion worth of flood control projects, and the revelation of some senators that officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways are conniving with various government project contractors, the chief executive of Iloilo City confirmed that some of the companies mentioned by President Marcos Jr. have flood control projects in her city.

Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas has expressed full support for President Marcos’ ongoing probe into the top 15 contractors handling flood control projects nationwide.

"I fully support the ongoing investigation initiated by President Marcos Jr. into these contractors and their projects," Treñas said in a statement sent to DAILY TRIBUNE.

"The Iloilo City Government, under my administration, will cooperate fully and provide all information necessary to aid this process," she added.

Treñas revealed that among the contractors mentioned by the President, St. Timothy Construction Corp. and Alpha & Omega General Contractor and Development Corp., both ranked in the Top 5, are currently handling major flood control projects in Iloilo City.

She said the implementing agency for these projects is the Iloilo City District Engineering Office (ICDEO).

Treñas disclosed that based on ICDEO’s status report as of 31 July 2025, three projects worth P425 million are listed under St. Timothy Construction Corp.

On the other hand, she said the Alpha & Omega General Contractor & Development Corp. is the contractor of the Iloilo Comprehensive Flood Mitigation Project – Section 2 worth P150 million.

"These projects are either non-functional, have caused flooding, or are, in some cases, practically non-existent," Treñas said.

The mayor emphasized that the Ilonggos have the right to know if there are delays, deficiencies, or any misuse of public funds, and assured those responsible must be held to account without fear or favor.

"The City of Iloilo, under my leadership, will help in providing all the information needed for this investigation. This is for the protection of our people and to make sure that every centavo allotted to these flood control projects will be returned to the people through quality work and genuine service," she stressed.

On Tuesday, Senator JV Ejercito revealed that erring officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways are indeed conniving with some contractors to have a share in government flood control projects, calling for a legislative probe to investigate the matter.

“May collusion dyan sa mga district office (ng DPWH at contractors). So dapat may managot talaga. Ang nakakabahala is I received information that there are even ghost projects sa flood control. Okay naman kumita ang mga contractor pero gagawin pang ghost, wala nang kunsensya yun. Okay lang kumita pero they have to deliver what is due and what is prescribed and expected,” he said during the Kapihan sa Senado forum on Monday.

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