President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. addressed the ongoing issue involving flood control project anomalies during his departure speech at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City before leaving for Malaysia to attend the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.

Marcos said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) discovered that several construction materials, including asphalt, steel bars, and cement, were overpriced by as much as 50 percent. “Actually, there are some egregious examples where it’s even more than that,” he said.

Following these findings, the president directed DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon to reduce the cost of materials “by as much as 50 percent,” emphasizing that the move will ensure public funds are spent properly and aligned with market prices. Marcos said the measure could “result in savings in capital outlay spending of at least P30 to P45 billion,” which will be redirected toward health, education, and food services.

In connection with this, Marcos said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will “recalibrate its priorities” by conducting a stricter probe into those involved in the questionable flood control projects and ensuring accountability for anyone found guilty.

He added that focus will also shift toward supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and large corporations “who have been lawfully paying their taxes,” to ensure fair treatment under the tax system.

“We are moving those efforts toward these questionable projects that we have been able to find,” he added.