Courtesy: House of Representatives
HOUSE Infrastructure Committee (Infra-Comm) chair Terry Ridon on Tuesday warned that government officials and private contractors behind anomalous flood control projects will face plunder charges, as the panel began its investigation into what he called a flood control “mafia.”
Opening the joint hearing of the House Committees on Public Accounts, Public Works, and Good Government, Ridon said the probe directly responds to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).
“Pagtugon ito sa panawagan ng Pangulo na siyasatin ang lahat ng mga flood control projects… partikular ang mga proyektong ghost, substandard, at sobra ang presyo,” he stressed.
The committee’s first target is the P55-million Baliuag, Bulacan project for a reinforced concrete river wall, which President Marcos himself discovered to be nonexistent.
“We have copies of all relevant documents to build the cases against officials of the DPWH 1st District Engineering Office and the private contractor, Syms Construction Trading, all of whom are involved in the P55-million Baliuag ghost project,” Ridon said.
He then issued a stern warning: “The threshold for plunder is fifty million pesos. This project is fifty-five million pesos. Plunder charges should be filed against all involved personalities in the soonest time.”
Ridon also cited the substandard flood control works in Calumpit, Bulacan, built by St. Timothy Construction and Wawao Builders.
“The President had found concrete deterioration, with exposed loose cables and wires. The two substandard projects had been built within the last four years,” he said, noting that both firms were among the top 15 flood control contractors flagged by the President.
“We take notice of Ms. Discaya’s admission that their group started engaging in DPWH flood control projects from 2016 onwards,” Ridon added.
“Hindi mahalaga kung saan ipinatupad ang proyekto… kung ghost, substandard o overpriced ang proyekto, sisiyasatin ng komite yan. Hindi rin mahalaga kung sinuman ang sangkot… kung mataas na opisyal man ng gobyerno yan, kontratista man yan, o kongresista o senador man yan,” Ridon said.
The chairman said the hearings are also intended to push reforms to prevent future anomalies.
“Layunin nating maglatag ng mga bagong panukala, para magkaroon ng perpetual blacklist ang mga hindi maaayos na mga kontratista. Layunin din nating pasalihin ang pribadong sektor sa mga inspeksyon ng mga proyekto… para putulin ang linya ng korapsyon sa mga proyekto,” he said.
In closing, Ridon underscored the importance of accountability and reform: “May maayos na flood control, at may hindi maayos na flood control. May maayos na imprastraktura, may hindi maayos na imprastraktura. Ipagpapatuloy natin ang maayos, tatapusin ang hindi maayos.”
He added: “Layunin din nating patunayan sa bayan na mas marami pa ring mga opisyal at kawani ng gobyernong matapang, magaling, masipag, matibay at mabuti.” (
