GENERAL SANTOS CITY — One local contractor from this city has landed an astonishing P1.57 billion worth of government flood control projects from 2022 to 2025, based on data from the Sumbong sa Pangulo website.

JG Oranza Construction, owned by engineer Bong Oranza, reportedly bagged at least 20 flood control contracts across South Cotabato’s 1st Congressional District — which covers General Santos City — and the lone district of Sarangani Province. The total? A hefty P1.57 billion.

Most of these projects were implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) South Cotabato 1st Engineering District under District Engineer Jonathan Bantug.

These flood control projects span key rivers and waterways in General Santos and Sarangani — areas prone to severe flooding. They include multi-million-peso river revetments and drainage systems meant to protect nearby homes and communities.

Among JG Oranza’s biggest projects are the P120.6-million Sinawal River revetment in Barangay Labangal, the P96.4-million Silway River revetment in Barangay Apopong, and the P91.6-million Tinagacan-Buayan River project. In Sarangani, the company cornered major contracts like the P96.4-million Latian Flood Control in Alabel and the P98.9-million Badtasan Flood Control in Kiamba.

Other contractors, including Legacy Construction Corp., JDRC Construction & Supplies Corp., Vicente T. Lao Construction, and MJ Tiongson Construction/Reydan Builders, handled smaller contracts worth between P39 million and P88 million.

Despite the huge spending, several of the flood control projects reportedly remain delayed or unverified — some even past their expected completion dates in 2022 or 2023.