MANILA — The corruption in flood control projects may not just run into billions but possibly balloon to trillions of pesos — an amount so staggering it dwarfs the budget for many social programs — according to Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon.
Pressed by Sen. Bam Aquino during Thursday’s Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, Dizon confirmed the possibility that the irregularities, which already involve “tens of billions, possibly hundreds of billions,” could climb into the trillion-peso range.
“May posibilidad po,” Dizon admitted, underscoring the magnitude of what lawmakers described as one of the most brazen plunders of public funds in recent history.
Aquino emphasized the scale of the alleged theft, contrasting it with the relatively small cost of social programs.
“We are talking about possibly trillions na ninakaw sa atin. So that is why this investigation is really important,” he said, pointing out that extending feeding days for malnourished children would only require P3 billion.
Dizon explained that the newly established Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), created through Executive Order 94, has been ordered to audit all flood control projects undertaken in the past decade.
“I guess it will really depend po… hindi po natin malalaman kung gaano kalaki. Malaki po e,” he told senators.
According to him, investigators have already uncovered a disturbing pattern of ghost projects and substandard works fraudulently certified as completed. He noted that charges for falsification were filed against several individuals just last week.
To reassure the public, the DPWH is building a disclosure system to make updates accessible online.
“We want to build a transparency portal similar to the President’s Sumbong sa Pangulo website, so we can publish our reports and the actions being taken by DPWH to hold people accountable,” Dizon said.
The first entries will include ghost projects and defective works, with more cases to be uploaded as the inquiry advances.
Asked if names of contractors and government personnel would be revealed, Dizon affirmed: “Pati po ‘yung mga DPWH personnel na involved ilalabas po natin.”
Aquino stressed the urgency of the process. “Mahalaga sa taong bayan na malaman nating lahat kailan ba ito mapa-publish, kailan ba ito matatapos,” he said.
But Dizon cautioned that the investigation will take time, given the deluge of complaints still being reported.
“Napakarami po at tuloy-tuloy pa rin po ang pagre-report sa amin,” he explained.
The Senate panel also delved into the bidding process. Aquino asked bluntly if bid rigging occurred.
“Absolutely, Mr. Chair,” Dizon replied. “Hindi po mangyayari ito kung malinis at transparent ang proseso ng procurement at either the district levels or the regional levels.”
Aquino reminded the public that under the Philippine Competition Act, violators of bid rigging may face penalties of P100 million to P250 million per offense.
“Importante sa taumbayan na hindi lang may makulong at hindi lang lahat ng involved ay makulong, pero maibalik din ‘yung pera,” he added.
Dizon agreed: “In my opinion, lahat po ng pwedeng ibatong kaso sa kanila, gawin po natin para hindi lang po mapanagot pero maibalik po ang pera.”/PN
