TIMELINE: FLOOD CONTROL SCANDAL

Early to mid 2024: Complaints begin

Residents and local governments report flood control projects that are unfinished, poorly built, or not visible at all — despite large budgets under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Commission on Audit starts flagging irregularities in Department of Public Works and Highways projects, including missing structures, relocated works, and payments for flood controls that already existed, especially in Bulacan.

22 July 2024: Marcos cites 5,500 projects

In his third State of the Nation Address, President Marcos says that more than 5,500 flood control projects were completed nationwide as proof the government was ready for heavy rains and the La Niña.

2025: Documents, audits and red flags

19 January 2025: ‘Cabral files’ surface

Documents linked to late DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral are presented in the Senate. The files show billions of pesos in flood control funds for 2025, and critics say they effectively serve as a guide to how projects may have been divided among favored districts and contractors.

First half of 2025: Pattern emerges

Media, CoA and watchdogs connect complaints nationwide: repeated project descriptions, unclear locations, and a small group of contractors winning huge shares of the budget. Bulacan becomes a focus due to long-running questionable flood projects.

Mid to late 2025: Scale of the problem exposed

22 July 2025: Marcos orders probe

In his fourth SoNA, Marcos admits many flood projects are substandard — or may not exist at all — and orders DPWH to review all flood control projects of the past three years.

11 August 2025: P100B to 15 contractors

Initial audit results show about P100 billion went to just 15 contractors. More than P350 billion worth of projects have vague descriptions or nearly identical designs, raising suspicions of ghost or templated contracts.

September 2025: Local anomalies confirmed

Quezon City reports dozens of projects with wrong or missing coordinates. CoA identifies P279 million worth of ghost or relocated flood projects in Bulacan and refers cases to the Ombudsman.

9 October 2025: Ghost projects uncovered

Investigators find 421 ghost projects among about 8,000 reviewed. Authorities freeze around P180 billion linked to hundreds of bank accounts tied to four contractor firms.

Late 2025: Arrests and political fallout

22 November 2025: Arrests, including of Bong Revilla

The Sandiganbayan issues warrants over a P289-million river dike project in Oriental Mindoro.

Several suspects are arrested in the case, while other politicians face separate flood control cases.

Others resign or leave the country as President Marcos vows jail time for those behind fake and unfinished flood projects.

27 November 2025: Lawmakers named

The DPWH and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure recommend cases against eight lawmakers allegedly linked to firms that secured P92 billion in DPWH contracts from 2016 to 2024. Those named deny any wrongdoing and say they will answer the allegations in court.

December 2025: More controversy

A justice undersecretary resigns after reports that his son’s company received large DPWH contracts.

Former DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral dies in a reported fall in Benguet. Among the angles being probed was her links to the flood control scandal.

18 January 2026: DoJ ready to file cases

The DoJ says there is now enough evidence for corruption charges in connection with 14 flood control projects, with more cases expected.

Former Senator Bong Revilla surrenders in over an alleged P92.8 million ghost flood-control project in Pandi, Bulacan.

February 2026: Wider damage seen

Officials say the scandal helped push construction activity to historic lows and contributed to job losses. What was once promoted as 5,500 completed flood control projects is now widely seen as part of a massive scandal involving ghost projects, political links, arrests, and deadly flooding.