Marilyn Cahatol

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. expressed intense anger over the discovery of "ghost" flood control projects in Bulacan during his inspection of a riverwall project in Barangay Piel, Baliuag. Despite records showing a completed 220-meter project worth P55 million, Marcos found that no actual work had been done. He emphasized that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported the project as finished even though there was no visible construction or evidence of labor. Marcos said that if the project had been properly implemented, it could have significantly improved the province’s irrigation system. He clarified that he was not merely disappointed, but “very angry” over the deception and ongoing flooding issues.

PHOTOS BY YUMMIE DINGDING / PPA POOL

Article (news)

MARCOS- FLOOD CONTROL

Vivienne Gulla

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/175617768738620250820-marcos-flood-control-inspection-baliuag-PPA37.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand &quot;Bongbong&quot; Marcos Jr. expressed intense anger over the discovery of &quot;ghost&quot; flood control projects in Bulacan during his inspection of a riverwall project in Barangay Piel, Baliuag. <em>Yummie Dingding, PPA Pool </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/20/marcos-inspects-flood-control-project-in-bulacan-as-probe-intensifies-0913">ghost” flood control project in Bulacan</a> recently inspected by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “originated” in the 2025 National Expenditure Program and is “not a congressional initiative,” House Infrastructure Committee co-chairperson Terry Ridon said Tuesday.</p><p>The National Expenditure Program is the executive’s proposed national budget submitted to Congress.</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><p>Ridon showed photos of the relevant part in the 2025 NEP and the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).</p><p>“Pagka sinabi natin na NEP-originated projects, ito po ay proposed mismo ng DPWH. Ito po ‘yung sinasabi ni Sec. Bonoan na fully vetted ng feasibility studies. At ito po ‘yung actually sinusuportahan po niyang tipo ng mga proyekto, kasi nga napag-aralan na,” Ridon said. </p><p>“But upon closer scrutiny, ako mismo ‘yung naghanap po sa NEP at GAA na line items. Kahit po NEP-originated projects, supposedly fully vetted, ay nasa-subject pa rin po to ghost projects, substandard projects ng ilan pong mga kontratista,” he added.</p><p>Last week, Marcos said he was “very angry” after seeing that a P55-million river wall project in Brgy. Piel, Baliuag, Bulacan has yet to be constructed.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/19/dpwh-chief-admits-existence-of-ghost-flood-control-projects-vows-probe-1233">DPWH chief admits existence of &#x27;ghost&#x27; flood control projects, vows probe</a></div><p>Based on documents from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the 220 meter-structure was supposed to begin last February. But when the President visited the area, there was no indication it even started despite being marked “completed.”</p><p>There were also receipts showing the project was fully paid.</p><p>In his fourth State of the National Address last July, Marcos had warned lawmakers against insertions in next year’s budget, saying that he would not sign a fresh spending bill if it were not aligned with the National Expenditure Program. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/28/marcos-warns-i-won-t-sign-budget-misaligned-with-gov-t-plans-1831">Marcos warns: I won&#x27;t sign budget &#x27;misaligned&#x27; with gov&#x27;t plans</a></div><p>These flood control projects will be part of the House Infra Comm inquiry, scheduled to begin on September 2. </p><p>Ridon said the joint panel invited the top 15 contractors for DPWH projects, including those who bagged the contract for the alleged “ghost” project in Bulacan. It also invited DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan and district engineers, and representatives from the Commission on Audit and the Bureau of Internal Revenue.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>POSSIBLE LIABILITIES?</strong></div><p>Ridon said certain officials of the DPWH could be held responsible over the alleged “ghost” project.</p><p>Asked if these officials include the DPWH chief, the lawmaker said, “We will see. Kung ano ‘yung level ng kanya pong responsibility. Pero, again, kung in-admit niya halimbawa na mayroon pong failure to check at the level of the Central Office or at the level of the Regional Director, there is ultimate responsibility on the Secretary of the Department of Public Works.” </p><p>The House inquiry will look into the possible liability of individuals who signed the contract, those who implemented it, and those who did the post-audit, if it was conducted.</p><p>“There should be criminal charges for ghost projects. So lahat po ng mga nakapirma po roon, project engineer, district engineer, should be liable for the ghost project. And the contractor as well,” Ridon said.</p><p>“We have to check with COA kung nagkaroon na ba silang post-audit dito po sa proyektong ito. Kung wala pa, wala po silang problema. Ongoing po ito. Pero kung nagkaroon ng post-audit, tapos sinabi n’yo na wala itong problema, masasama din sila sa mga pwedeng kasuhan,” he added.</p><p>“If it&#x27;s a P55 million project na pinera, ‘di ba plunder na ‘yun? Kasi P50 million po ‘yung threshold for plunder. Pagka mayroong personal gain ‘yung district engineer, mayroong personal gain ‘yung project engineer. Lahat po ng nakipagpartihan dito sa P55 million project na ito, na ghost project in Bulacan, baka plunder na ‘yun,” Ridon noted.</p><p>He said he did not believe that accountability would reach the level of the President at this point. </p><p>“Kasi, syempre, very particular projects po ito. And I think we had seen naman po the President. He had been going around places disappointed and already angry. So, we have to be able to exact real accountability from those directly involved,” Ridon said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PREVENTIVE </strong><strong>SUSPENSION</strong></div><p>He also clarified that even if the questionable flood control projects were not a congressional initiative, lawmakers are not automatically exonerated from involvement in the alleged anomaly.</p><p>“We don&#x27;t know yet. To be clear, whether it&#x27;s a NEP originated project, whether it&#x27;s a congressional initiative originated project, pwedeng may madamay na senador, pwede pa rin may madamay na kongresista rito,” Ridon said.</p><p>The DPWH chief has denied involvement in alleged anomalies in flood control projects. </p><p>Bonoan said he “absolutely” did not benefit from any infrastructure project, and took no part in alleged corruption.</p><p>He announced that he issued on Tuesday a preventive suspension of DPWH district officials implicated in the alleged ghost project.</p><p>“They&#x27;ll have to establish my liability,” Bonoan said. </p><p>“I don&#x27;t tolerate this kind of attitude. That&#x27;s why I&#x27;m filing all the charges against anybody, who are involved actually in these ghost projects that have been discovered by the President,” he added.</p><p>“In fact, today I think I have issued the preventive suspension of the district offices involved in ghost projects allegedly for now,” Bonoan said.</p><p>In his fourth State of the National Address last July, Marcos had warned lawmakers against insertions in next year’s budget, saying that he would not sign a fresh spending bill if it is not aligned with the National Expenditure Program. </p><p>“Ultimately it is the power of the President to make line item vetoes. Pero syempre po, Congress and the Senate still hold the power of the purse. At we will review each and every line item din po in each and every department. And we support the President sa sinasabi po niya na dapat po hindi lumayo ito pong proposal at budget po for 2026 mula po doon sa kanya pong national expenditure,” Ridon said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><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/VzM90KUEbfw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The “ghost” flood control project in Bulacan recently inspected by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “originated” in the 2025 National Expenditure Program and was “not a congressional initiative,” House Infrastructure Committee co-chairperson Terry Ridon said Tuesday.</p>

The “ghost” flood control project in Bulacan recently inspected by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “originated” in the 2025 National Expenditure Program and was “not a congressional initiative,” House Infrastructure Committee co-chairperson Terry Ridon said Tuesday.

Bulacan 'ghost' project originated from NEP, not Congress: lawmaker

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Bulacan 'ghost' project originated from NEP, not Congress: lawmaker

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 26, 2025 11:36 AM PHT

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Updated August 26, 2025 08:37 PM PHT

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