SENATE President Chiz Escudero distances himself from flood control projects.
This denial comes after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. revealed that a significant portion of the national flood control budget was awarded to a small number of contractors.
While denying direct involvement, Escudero acknowledged that Lawrence Lubiano, president of Centerways Construction and Development Inc., was a campaign contributor during the 2022 elections.
Centerways Construction and Development is among the 15 contractors identified by President Marcos as having secured a substantial portion of the P545 billion in flood control contracts.
Escudero emphasized that he had no role in identifying projects, creating programs of work, bidding processes, awarding contracts, payments, or inspections related to any government projects, whether in Sorsogon or other regions.
Escudero further clarified that Centerways Construction and Development secured P5.4 billion in flood control projects in the Bicol Region and Central Visayas, representing less than one percent of the total contracts disclosed by President Marcos.
He affirmed his friendship with Lubiano, who is also from Sorsogon, but maintained that he has no business ties with the construction company.
