Building Trust: Ensuring Transparency in Eastern Visayas Flood Control Initiatives

by Roel Montes

TACLOBAN CITY — At least PHP53.36 billion in funds have been allocated since 2023 for the implementation of 700 flood control projects in the Eastern Visayas region, which will be subject to monitoring as directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. Data obtained by the Philippine News Agency (PNA) from the Regional Development Council (RDC) showed that of the total projects, 435 have been completed, 216 are ongoing, and 49 have not yet started as of June 2025.

These projects are being implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office and its 14 district engineering offices across six provinces. Based on the report presented by DPWH during the 2nd quarter RDC-Infrastructure and Utilities Development Committee meeting, some PHP13.35 billion was set aside in 2023 for 232 flood mitigation projects. Only five are ongoing, while the rest have been completed.

In 2024, the region got a PHP26.57 billion outlay to build 286 flood control structureooʻoʻs, with 208 having been completed, 77 ongoing, and one yet to start. This year, the region is a recipient of PHP13.43 billion worth of flood mitigation projects. Of the 182 planned projects, 134 are ongoing and 48 have not yet commenced.

Recently, Senator Panfilo Lacson expressed his concerns about the flood control projects, stating that trillions of pesos have gone to corruption related to these initiatives. His remarks highlight the need for stringent oversight and accountability in the management of funds allotted for these critical projects.

Top DPWH officials in Eastern Visayas are not available for interviews after the President’s 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28. During his SONA, Marcos directed the DPWH to submit a list of flood control projects that were constructed since the start of his administration in 2022.

The President also ordered the Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC) to conduct a review of flood control projects and determine those that failed, are unfinished, or are suspected to be ghost projects.

Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Eastern Visayas Regional Director Meylene Rosales, the RPMC chair, said they are ready to heed the President’s directive despite limited resources. “We wait for more guidance from our central office since the RPMC is very lean in size. We still must iron out our operational concerns,” Rosales told the PNA on Wednesday.

The RPMC, composed of RDC members from both government agencies and the private sector, monitors, evaluates, and formulates recommendations on the implementation of development plans and programs in the region. “RPMC activities are a pain in the neck because we are trying to solve problems. The public is assured that there’s no whitewashing of facts,” Rosales said.

For 2025, the Eastern Visayas RPMC has been monitoring 1,136 projects worth PHP94.5 billion being carried out by 11 government agencies. The majority, or 1,085, of these projects are being implemented by DPWH. Executive Order 93, issued in 1993, mandates the RPMC to monitor all foreign-assisted projects, interprovincial projects, area development projects, nationally funded and locally funded projects, and other projects considered critical by the Office of the President and the RDC.