THE House inquiry into alleged corruption in the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) flood control projects has triggered an outcry for acountability and “zero tolerance for abuse of public funds.”
“Will anyone be held accountable—whether it’s a legislator, a Malacañang official, or a contractor? The barometer is, will anyone be charged?” Rep. Antonio Tinio of the Makabayan bloc told reporters Monday.
The DPWH will continue to conduct a briefing and answer queries from the House Committee on Public Accounts on Wednesday. This follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s disclosure that 6,021 projects worth over P350 billion—or more than 60 percent of all flood-control projects—lack even basic project details.
Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco called the revelations “unacceptable” and noted that 15 contractors cornered 20 percent of the P545-billion program budget.
“That raises serious questions about fairness, transparency, and potential corruption,” he said.
Tiangco, whose city lies below sea level, stressed that misused funds are a direct blow to vulnerable communities.
“Every peso wasted or misused on flood control is a betrayal,” he said. “We cannot and will not allow critical infrastructure to become a playground for inefficiency—or worse, corruption.”
Backing the president’s call to audit and clean up the projects, Tiangco urged all stakeholders to cooperate. He welcomed the launch of sumbongsapangulo.ph, a website where citizens can report irregularities, and encouraged Navoteños to use it.
“There must be zero tolerance for abuse of public funds, especially when lives are at stake,” he said. “We demand results. We demand accountability. And we demand justice for every community left vulnerable by incompetence or dishonesty.”
