ILOILO City – Two of the country’s biggest flood control contractors now under review by Malacañang are currently implementing multimillion-peso projects in Iloilo City — and Mayor Raisa Treñas says she is fully behind President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s order to scrutinize their performance and contracts.
President Marcos on Monday disclosed that an initial Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) review found that 20 percent — or roughly P100 billion — of all flood control projects in the past three years went to just 15 contractors. Of these, five had projects across almost the entire country.
“I don’t know about you, but that is a very big number. By any measure, that is an enormous number,” Marcos said in a Malacañang press conference.
Among those named in the President’s list were St. Timothy Construction Corp. and Alpha & Omega General Contractor & Development Corp., both ranked in the national Top 5 and currently engaged in major works under the DPWH–Iloilo City District Engineering Office (ICDEO).
Based on ICDEO’s July 31, 2025 report:
* St. Timothy Construction Corp. is handling three projects. Two of these each have a budget of P150 million for the “Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure in Lapuz” — Section 1 and Section 2 — originally slated for completion on December 16, 2024; the other is the “Construction of Flood Mitigation Structure in Iloilo City, Section 1 (specific address undisclosed) with a budget of P125 million and slated for completion on November 14, 2024 but is currently suspended due to obstructions.
* Alpha & Omega General Contractor & Development Corp. is implementing the Iloilo Comprehensive Flood Mitigation Project – Section 2 (specific location undisclosed), worth P150 million, with a target completion date of March 24, 2026.
Treñas vowed that the city government will fully cooperate with the national review and open its records to ensure transparency.
“Flooding has brought severe and repeated suffering to our communities, especially during heavy rains and typhoons,” she said. “If there are delays, deficiencies, or any misuse of public funds, the people of Iloilo City have the absolute right to know, and those responsible must be held to account without fear or favor.”
She stressed that the stakes are not just about infrastructure but about public trust.
“Ang syudad sang Iloilo, sa idalum sang akon liderato, magabulig sa paghatag sang tanan nga impormasyon nga kinahanglan para sa sini nga imbestigasyon,” she said. “Para ini sa proteksyon sang aton pumuluyo kag sa pagsiguro nga kada sentimo nga ginatugyan para sa flood control projects, ginabalik man sa katawhan pinaagi sa maayong obra kag tinuod nga serbisyo.”
The President, who ordered the audit during his State of the Nation Address on July 28, denounced corruption in public works that he said had worsened recurring flash floods nationwide.
He said the DPWH identified 2,409 contractors for both local and national flood control projects since July 2022 but stressed the concentration of contracts in the hands of a few “stood out very much” and must be examined.
“That for me was the one that stood out very much. Five of these contractors had projects in almost the entire country. So those are the ones that immediately pop out na sa aking palagay ay kailangan natin tingnan,” Marcos said.
He added, “We are not accusing anyone of anything yet. However, it gives us an idea of what, how this has been conducted. So, I hope the people will take advantage of this. And as I said, there is always a way for them to give their comments,” further referring to a new online platform empowering Filipinos to track and report on the government’s flood control program.
Through the newly launched sumbongsapangulo.ph, citizens can access details of ongoing and completed flood control projects nationwide and directly relay feedback or complaints to Malacañang.
In Iloilo City, flood control remains a politically charged issue, with some ICDEO projects under local council scrutiny over allegations that delays or defects may have worsened flooding in certain districts. Treñas said it is vital to determine whether problems stem from technical challenges, contractor lapses, or systemic flaws in project implementation.
“Public infrastructure is built with public funds,” she said. “Every peso must translate into safety, resilience, and real protection for our people — anything less is unacceptable.”/PN
