Rowegie Abanto

Workers carry out rehabilitation and dredging works along the Marikina riverbanks in Marikina City on August 11, 2025,  to address flooding caused by elevated water levels during heavy rainfall. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Workers carry out rehabilitation and dredging works along the Marikina riverbanks in Marikina City  on August 11, 2025,  to address flooding caused by elevated water levels during heavy rainfall.

Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

MARIKINA-- FLOOD CONTROL

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/175556802468820250811-marikina-riverbanks-rehabilitation-JC4742.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false" style="text-align:left">Workers carry out rehabilitation and dredging works along the Marikina riverbanks in Marikina City on August 11, 2025,  to address flooding caused by elevated water levels during heavy rainfall. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (2nd UPDATE) </strong>— The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Tuesday morning officially opened its inquiry into the alleged anomalies in the flood control projects in the country.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/8/17/coa-orders-fraud-audit-on-flood-control-projects-in-bulacan-1551?fbclid=IwY2xjawMPnzFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFmd3plakdGc2tEOEFGTjFXAR7qtkc5GxvNvGArEDcP4eCRxTXOYj34V_PHHacw99ysj-83dtV4BetdnJFifg_aem_mKCAu_a3dvCTvZfPq0jReg">COA orders fraud audit on flood control projects in Bulacan</a></div><p>In his opening statement, first-term Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, chairperson of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, described the supposed irregularities as the &quot;most controversial&quot; issue hounding the country now.</p><div><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/W88jZ-ZRxVU?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>The inquiry, titled &quot;The Philippines under water,&quot; was not motivated by politics and was not meant to tarnish the reputation of anyone, Marcoleta stressed.</p><p>The senator noted that some flood control projects were &quot;disproportionately concentrated&quot; among a select group of contractors.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/8/18/bulacan-official-to-recommend-own-audit-of-flood-control-projects-in-province-1601">&#x27;Nagulat kami&#x27;: Bulacan vice gov says to recommend own audit of flood control projects in province</a></div><p>He also stressed that climate change is not a valid excuse for the massive flooding battering the country.</p><p>&quot;It is our duty to get to the bottom of this. Kahit sisirin pa natin ito kung kailangan. No stone should be left unturned and no one shall be spared. Pagtulungan po natin hanapin ang katotohanan para tuluyang makapaglatag ng epektibo at pangmatagalang solusyon sa suliranin natin sa baha,&quot; Marcoleta said.</p><p>The investigation follows the order of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/28/-mahiya-naman-kayo-marcos-order-probe-on-corruption-in-flood-control-projects-1725">during his State of the Nation Address in July</a> to look into the flood mitigation projects nationwide after widespread flooding struck the country during that month.</p><p>The congressional probe also comes after Marcos published a list of the top 15 flood control contractors in the country. </p><p>Although he stopped short of making a corruption allegation, he questioned why only<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/11/15-contractors-cornered-p100-b-worth-of-flood-control-projects-since-2022-marcos-1053"> 15 construction companies</a> bagged about P100 billion or 20 percent of nearly 10,000 flood control projects from July 2022 to May 2025.</p><p>After the President published the list and <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/11/marcos-launches-website-to-seek-public-help-in-auditing-flood-control-projects-0923">launched a website where the public can check and provide feedback</a> on government-funded infrastructure in their vicinity, several government agencies also vowed to initiate their own audit of the hundreds of flood control projects.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SUMMON</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Out of the 15 government contractors invited to the hearing, only 7 showed up in the Senate.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/13/dpwh-probe-focuses-on-flood-control-projects-under-15-contractors-flagged-by-marcos-1046">DPWH probe focuses on flood control projects under 15 contractors flagged by Marcos</a></div><p>Notably absent was Sarah Discaya, whose family is being linked to two Pasig-based firms on Malacañang’s list of top flood control contractors.</p><p>The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee said it would issue subpoenas for the contractors who are absent from today&#x27;s hearing.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/16/marcoleta-acknowledges-investigation-into-flood-control-projects-challenging-1048">Marcoleta acknowledges investigation into flood control projects &#x27;challenging&#x27;</a></div><p>Senate President Francis &quot;Chiz&quot; Escudero earlier said he would file a bill barring government officials, lawmakers, and their families up to the fourth degree of consanguinity and affinity from securing government procurement contracts. He said he heard of claims that some lawmakers were contractors.</p><p>Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong also accused some lawmakers of getting kickbacks of 30 to 40 percent of the budget for flood control and infrastructure projects. He has yet to provide evidence for the allegation.</p><div><strong>— With a report from Ched Rick Gatchalian and RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><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/3PSGgWMUGJQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><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/EixMR8qC7l8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Tuesday morning is set to launch its inquiry into the alleged anomalies in the flood control projects in the country.</p>

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Tuesday morning is set to launch its inquiry into the alleged anomalies in the flood control projects in the country.

Senate kicks off probe into flood control projects; Discaya, other contractors no show

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Senate kicks off probe into flood control projects; Discaya, other contractors no show

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 19, 2025 09:51 AM PHT

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Updated August 19, 2025 01:10 PM PHT

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