MALACAÑANG on Tuesday revealed the ongoing probe into flood-control projects has found that some previously blacklisted companies got away with winning new project bids by operating under different names.
“We have seen some… who were previously on the blacklist… but changed their names,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a media briefing.
“They seem to still be thriving, so we should keep an eye on that and be critical of their past work,” she said.
Castro warned the government will be stricter in scrutinizing contracts and that companies, regardless of the name they use, will be held accountable for any anomalies.
She urged local government officials to support President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s transparency initiative, citing Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto’s endorsement of the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” platform as an example of national-local collaboration.
No sacred cows
Castro reiterated the president’s promise that no one will be spared in the ongoing investigation, regardless of their ties to the Marcos administration.
“Even if they are close to his heart, even if they are friends, the president will not spare anyone,” she said.
The investigation will be led by the Regional Project Monitoring Committees, with oversight from the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev). The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will not be part of the investigating body.
Probe to target 15 contractors
The Palace clarified that the 15 contractors recently identified by the President as having cornered a significant portion of flood-control projects are not yet blacklisted.
These contractors, who secured nearly 20 percent of the P545.64 billion allocated for flood control from July 2022 to May 2025, will be the first to be investigated.
“The reports don’t mean that all of them are anomalous,” Castro said, adding that the investigation will determine if their projects are still in existence, operational, and effective.
Marcos noted that a number of these projects had identical contract costs despite different locations, and many lacked a clear description of the work performed.
Despite the controversy, the Palace official confirmed that DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan continues to enjoy the full trust and confidence of the president.
