Ched Rick Gatchalian

Various groups hurled mud at the gate of St. Gerrard Construction and spray-painted the words "magnanakaw," "corrupt," and "ikulong" on both the gate and the walls outside the property as a way to denounce allegedly corrupt firms and politicians behind anomalous flood control projects. Izzy Lee, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

 
Flood control scandal harms PH reputation among business community, foreign countries: PCCI

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1757498788991Screenshot 2025-09-10 180537.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Various groups hurled mud at the gate of St. Gerrard Construction and spray-painted the words &quot;magnanakaw,&quot; &quot;corrupt,&quot; and &quot;ikulong&quot; on both the gate and the walls outside the property as a way to denounce allegedly corrupt firms and politicians behind anomalous flood control projects. <em>Izzy Lee, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) urged the government to act swiftly, warning that alleged corruption in flood control projects may affect investor confidence and raise fear among neighboring countries.</p><p>&quot;For the businessmen, we’re concerned. We’re the ones paying the taxes and the money for this is all coming from taxes and loans. Hopefully, this can be dealt with,&quot; said PCCI chairman George Barcelon on ANC&#x27;s Market Edge.</p><p>Barcelon added that while they commend President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for tackling the anomalous flood control projects in his recent State of the Nation Address, the public expects swift action from the government.</p><p>&quot;We didn’t realize the amount involved is staggering, half-a-trillion pesos,&quot; he stressed, citing the 9,855 flood control projects that <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/5/five-reveals-from-the-flood-control-data-1848">government funded with P545 billion since July 2022</a>.</p><p>The Department of Finance (DOF) earlier stated that <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/9/2/ph-economy-lost-over-p100-b-to-ghost-flood-control-projects-from-2023-2025-recto-1859">the Philippine economy lost over P100 billion</a> to &quot;ghost&quot; flood control projects from 2023 to 2025, which Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said could have been used to give up to 266,000 jobs to Filipinos.</p><p>&quot;If you look at it, people committing such crimes, they&#x27;re doing it with impunity, and that&#x27;s what the projections of poor image of our country,&quot; Barcelon said. &quot;I hope this will be addressed as quickly as possible.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>LESSON NOT LEARNED SINCE PDAF SCAM?</strong></div><p>Barcelon said he hopes the government can secure evidence and provide a witness protection program for flood control whistleblowers, noting that the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam showed how the absence of evidence can lead to case dismissals.</p><p>Earlier this year<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/14/sandiganbayan-clears-napoles-ex-solon-plaza-in-p27-5-m-malversation-graft-case-1526">, the Sandiganbayan has acquitted &quot;pork barrel queen&quot; Janet Napoles</a>, former Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo Plaza, and several others of graft and malversation due to &quot;failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.&quot;</p><p>&quot;You should remember the Napoles PDAF issue was only 10 years ago, who would have thought there would be safeguards for scandals like this? But again, we didn&#x27;t give the necessary check and balance,&quot; Barcelon stressed.</p><p>Critics have called out the same &quot;playbook&quot; supposedly used by Napoles and top flood works contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya — whom they said used ties with bureaucrats to hide alleged corruption.</p><p>The Discaya couple said this week they want to testify as <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/8/discayas-must-return-money-first-before-qualifying-as-state-witnesses-doj-1528">state witnesses</a> after naming members of Congress and government agencies who allegedly demanded commissions from them.</p><p>&quot;Government should give protection program to people can come out with Discaya,&quot; Barcelon said. &quot;The President and the leaders in government must make sure that this is handled properly otherwise, if it ends with a whimper, it&#x27;s not good for our image.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mh2e1xQ9uLI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qc-3oe0I1XY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) urged the government to act swiftly, warning that alleged corruption in flood control projects may affect investor confidence and raise fear among neighboring countries.</p>

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) urged the government to act swiftly, warning that alleged corruption in flood control projects may affect investor confidence and raise fear among neighboring countries.