Ched Rick Gatchalian

Residents of Barangay San Miguel in Calumpit, Bulacan sit on the roof of their houses as the flood in their community reach neck-deep on July 31, 2023 due to continuous rains for days. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

'Not an isolated case': Lacson says DPWH's excuse over 'ghost' flood control projects expected, audit necessary

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/1755858787587875958dd6c82e896b824c4c800e2769924c58726df49ad8e898a219dda138bb3.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Residents of Barangay San Miguel in Calumpit, Bulacan sit on the roof of their houses as the flood in their community reach neck-deep on July 31, 2023 due to continuous rains for days. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — Senator Ping Lacson on Friday said his office has prepared case studies to prove his claim that there are &quot;ghost&quot; flood control projects in many parts of the country. </p><p>This, as Lacson disputed Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan&#x27;s claim that spurious projects in Bulacan are just an &quot;isolated case&quot;.</p><p>Bonoan uttered the statement amid calls for his resignation as DPWH head.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/22/dpwh-chief-on-resign-calls-president-told-me-to-continue-probe-0922">DPWH chief on resign calls: President told me to continue probe</a></div><p>Bonoan said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had told him to continue investigating the alleged ghost flood-control projects in Bulacan.</p><p>Lacson said he already expected the &quot;isolated case&quot; remark as an excuse.</p><p>&quot;I expected that &#x27;isolated case&#x27; line and I can say this is not an isolated case. That is why we conducted case studies in Pampanga, Northern Luzon and other areas, just to debunk the claims that Bulacan is an isolated case,&quot; the senator said in a radio interview.</p><p>&quot;When you say it is an isolated case, it sounds like a defense mechanism. It suggests you don&#x27;t intend to conduct a full-scale and comprehensive investigation,&quot; he added.</p><p>Lacson said it is high time for DPWH to conduct an internal audit of its projects to see the full picture of the issue.</p><p>Last Wednesday, August 20, Lacson mapped out the traces of alleged graft and corruption enmeshed in the country&#x27;s flood control projects through involvement of some DPWH insiders, contractors, and a congressman.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/19/senate-blue-ribbon-subpoenas-contractors-absent-from-flood-control-probe-1349">Lacson details corruption in flood control projects</a></div><p>He presented several examples that he said showed the extent of the modus from projects in Bulacan, Pampanga, La Union and Oriental Mindoro. </p><p>Bonoan earlier said that he just heard about another reported anomalous flood control project in Oriental Mindoro, stressing he will look into it.</p><p>&quot;He may not be made aware of it, but it is still his responsibility. Now is the time to audit everything, at least when it comes to flood control projects,&quot; he said.</p><p>Lacson also hopes that the Commission on Audit (COA) will conduct a &quot;comprehensive and extensive&quot; fraud audit to inform the public how their taxes were spent.</p><p>&quot;The allocation of funds for projects in an area should be based on the needs and priorities of the constituents. So I hope it will come out in the audit,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/8/21/-ghost-flood-control-project-in-oriental-mindoro-funded-thrice-in-2024-2313">&#x27;Ghost&#x27; flood control project in Oriental Mindoro funded thrice in 2024</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>CERTAINTY OF PUNISHMENT</strong></div><p>In a separate telecision interview, Lacson said he expects the government&#x27;s crackdown on bogus flood control project will bear fruit and will hold erring public officials accountable.</p><p>&quot;I hope the investigation bears fruit and those responsible will be punished, charged and jailed,&quot; he said.</p><p>The DPWH said 10 officials from its first district engineering office in Bulacan have been relieved from their posts pending an investigation into the ghost projects in the province.</p><p>Marcos meanwhile has ordered the blacklisting of the construction company involved in the ghost river wall project in Baliwag that he inspected. He also ordered charges filed against the firm.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/8/21/p55-m-ghost-river-wall-project-in-baliwag-skipped-local-gov-t-oversight-lgu-says-1651">P55-M &#x27;ghost&#x27; river wall project in Baliwag skipped local gov&#x27;t oversight, LGU says</a></div><p>Lacson earlier alleged that contractors work in cahoots with government officials and DPWH to &quot;divide up the funds for projects&quot; and build projects using substandard materials.</p><p>The senator said there can be a &quot;sequel&quot; to the details he shared during his privilege speech once his staff uncover more secrets.</p><p>For now, he advises the public to continue reporting to SumbongsaPangulo website regarding faulty and bogus flood control projects.</p>

<p>Senator Ping Lacson on Friday said his office has prepared case studies to prove his claim that there are "ghost" flood control projects in many parts of the country. </p>

Senator Ping Lacson on Friday said his office has prepared case studies to prove his claim that there are "ghost" flood control projects in many parts of the country.

'Not an isolated case': Lacson scoffs at DPWH's excuse over 'ghost' flood control projects

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'Not an isolated case': Lacson scoffs at DPWH's excuse over 'ghost' flood control projects

Ched Rick Gatchalian,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 22, 2025 06:45 PM PHT

Read More:

Flood control projects

Ping Lacson

Ghost flood control projects

Ghost projects

Oriental Mindoro

Bulacan

Flood

DPWH

Department of Public Works and Highways

Manuel Bonoan

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