22/08/2025
𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗠𝗔𝗬𝗢𝗥𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗚𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘
CALLING FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
ON ALLEGED ANOMALOUS FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS
August 22, 2025
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘶𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺.
The Vice Mayors for Good Governance (VMGG) expresses deep concern over persistent reports of graft and corruption in the implementation of flood control projects across the country. These projects, meant to protect lives and livelihoods, have too often become vehicles for profiteering by unscrupulous politicians and contractors.
We join President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in condemning the misuse of public funds, substandard construction, and the manipulation of procurement processes that undermine the very purpose of these projects. Every peso stolen is a life put at risk, a home left unprotected, and a community condemned to repeated suffering from floods.
As local leaders committed to integrity and service, we put forward the following calls to action:
📌 Full Transparency and Public Disclosure: All flood control projects—budgets, contractors, timelines, and technical plans—must be made accessible to the public. Citizens deserve to know how their money is being spent.
📌 Independent Oversight: The Commission on Audit (COA), civil society organizations, academic institutions, and people’s groups must be empowered to conduct real-time monitoring of project implementation to prevent corruption before it happens.
📌 Accountability for Wrongdoers: We call on investigative agencies and the Ombudsman to pursue cases against politicians, contractors, and officials of the DPWH proven to have engaged in anomalous practices. Corruption in disaster resilience projects is not just theft—it is a crime against public safety and endangers the lives of millions of ordinary Filipinos.
📌 Strengthening Local Government Capacity: Local governments must be empowered to take a bigger role in planning and monitoring flood control projects in their jurisdictions, ensuring that projects meet real community needs and are not dictated by political or business interests.
The VMGG stands firm: flood control projects are lifelines, not profit streams. We owe it to our people to safeguard these initiatives from corruption and deliver solutions that are durable, effective, and just.
We call on our fellow leaders—national and local—to reject the politics of self-interest and embrace the politics of service. Our communities deserve nothing less.
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