Arthur Fuentes

Article (news)

Flood control

Andrea Taguines

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) on Tuesday pressed the Marcos administration to hasten its investigation into the flood control corruption scandal, amid growing calls for accountability.Although measures have been taken to run after those behind ghost and substandard flood control projects, PCCI President Enunina Mangio said the business sector wants results, and fast.“When was the SONA (State of the Nation Address)? July. Ano na tayo ngayon? October. Yet was there anyone who has been pinpointed and persecuted? We want more decisive action and that, kung pwede, speed up whatever they’re doing because the people are waiting. Not only the business sector, but we are with the people who are saying na ang bagal,” she said.Mangio also pointed out that, so far, no charges have been filed against the big fish or high public officials potentially involved in the fiasco.“Yun ang hinihintay pa natin. Kaya tayo nababagalan because, right now, ang napi-pinpoint pa lang puro mga district engineers. So wala bang involved sa taas? Lahat ba sila clear? We are not trying to speculate but we want to know,” she said.In a resolution issued at the end of the two-day 51st Philippine Business Conference and Expo in Pasay City, the PCCI demanded that public officials and private partners involved in collusion are investigated, prosecuted, and penalized to the fullest extent of the law, and that stolen public funds are recovered.It said these funds can be redirected toward programs that genuinely serve the Filipino people, especially the poor.It also strongly urged the national government “to put an end to unabated, continuing, and excessive corruption in public projects and transactions by instituting strict monitoring,transparency, and accountability mechanisms across all levels of governance.”The organization further laid out the following recommendations:- Establish stricter monitoring, auditing, and reporting mechanisms in all government projects to ensure full transparency and integrity- Institutionalize open governance systems and publish data on project implementation, procurement, and fund utilization for public access- Enforce accountability and sanctions on public officials and private entities involved in corruption and collusion- Create multi-sectoral oversight bodies with private sector participation to strengthen governance and integrity in public projects<div> </div><div>MORE TEETH AND TRANSPARENCY</div>The PCCI also joined calls for the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, which is tasked to probe anomalous public works projects in the last decade, to livestream its hearings.The group added that the ICI should be given more authority so it can carry out its job. While the ICI can issue subpoenas, it has been criticized for not having contempt powers.“Kailangan ng Presidente natin na bigyan ng konting power pa ang ICI para maging effective yung kanilang ginagawa, and sila mismo pati maging transparent sa kanilang mga findings. Laging closed door hearing yan so we don’t know,” said Mangio.Several business groups have earlier said that the flood control scandal has affected investor confidence.For PCCI Chairman for Science and Technology Ferdinand Ferrer, who is in the semiconductor industry, said some investors may choose to divert their investments should the issue continue to drag on.“We don’t believe, not that I know, that there has been some diversion or loss of business because of the flood control corruption mess. Will there be in the future? I believe there could be if we do not act, if there’s nothing solid. If this discussion prolongs for more months and months, I think (that’s possible) not only (for) semiconductor but also other investments,” he said.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry pressed the Marcos administration to hasten its probe into the flood control corruption scandal, amid growing calls for accountability.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry pressed the Marcos administration to hasten its probe into the flood control corruption scandal, amid growing calls for accountability.

'Ang bagal': Biz group piles pressure on Marcos admin to resolve flood control mess

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'Ang bagal': Biz group piles pressure on Marcos admin to resolve flood control mess

Andrea Taguines,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 21, 2025 07:30 PM PHT

Read More:

PCCI

flood control

corruption

DPWH

transparency

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Department of Public Works and Highways

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