DPWH chief cites challenges to flood control projects

Bonoan made the statement after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the agency to submit a list of all flood control projects under his administration to determine which ones were completed, which remain unfinished, and which are allegedly ghost projects.

READ: Sona 2025: Marcos on corrupt people in flood control deals: ‘Shame on you’

In a televised interview, Bonoan maintained that many flood control projects were properly engineered but said their budgets for project preparation were often reduced to the bare minimum.

"There were actually many flood control projects that were properly engineered. Even back then, our budget for project preparation and engineering would always disappear or be reduced to the barest minimum — but we still did our best to carry them out," he said in a DZMM interview.

“But there are actually mga projects kasi that would just come about after the General Appropriations Act, nadadagdag nang nadadagdag (They just keep piling up). These are hastily prepared; some of them are hastily prepared. So these are the challenges that we've been facing,” he also revealed.

The DPWH has the second-highest budget under the 2025 GAA, amounting to P1.007 trillion, next to the Department of Education with P1.055 trillion.

Marcos, however, vetoed at least P16.7 billion worth of flood control projects in various regions nationwide under the P6.326 trillion national budget for this year.

READ: Marcos vetoes flood control projects in 2025 national budget

These include P4.58 billion for the construction or maintenance of flood mitigation structures and drainage systems, P2.88 billion for the construction or maintenance of flood mitigation facilities within major river basins and principal rivers, P182.7 million for the construction or rehabilitation of water supply, septage and sewerage, rainwater collectors, among others.

During the interview, Bonoan noted that his tenure at the DPWH did not start smoothly, as the country has long been grappling with severe flooding problems.

“Nadatnan namin talaga matindi ang pangangailangan natin sa pag-address ng flood control dito sa ating bansa,” he said, adding that he is “happy” that Marcos has put a spotlight on this problem in his State of the Nation Address on Monday.

(We truly found that there is a serious need to address flood control in our country.)

"So to speak, we did not inherit a bed of roses. In times like these, and over the course of time, we’ve observed that there’s still so much more that needs to be done when it comes to flood control projects," he said.

He further lamented the condition of silted rivers, which contribute to flooding whenever it rains.

“Nobody, I think, has ever looked into that problem,” he said.

Bonoan also vowed that the Department of Public Works and Highways will comply with Marcos’ order to submit a full accounting of flood control projects.

"Our monitoring of all the department's projects is computerized anyway. It’s just a matter of pulling the data from each district or region, including the categories, the cost, and the current status."

In his State of the Nation Address, Marcos said many flood control projects were poorly executed, resulting in extensive flooding amid the onslaught of the southwest monsoon, or habagat, and recent tropical cyclones.

“Let’s stop pretending. Everyone knows that there’s hustling going on in the projects — kickbacks, initiatives, errata, SOPs, ‘for the boys,”  he said, referring to corrupt officials and contractors.

He then warned those who would conspire to steal the nation’s funds for selfish gains.

“Have some shame. Your countrymen were swept away or submerged by the floods. Have even more shame because our children will inherit the debts you created because you pocketed the money,” he said.

READ: Death toll from habagat, cyclones rises to 34 – NDRRMC

According to the latest data released on Tuesday by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the death toll due to the recent heavy rains and flooding has climbed to 34.

Seven individuals remain missing, while 18 others were injured. /gsg