ILOILO — The Iloilo Provincial Board is set to conduct a sweeping province-wide investigation into the P5.7-billion flood control projects implemented from 2022 to 2025, amid allegations of “ghost” projects and irregularities that have rocked similar initiatives nationwide.
Second District Board Member June Mondejar, chairman of the committees on Ways and Means and on Public Order and Security, said the probe aims to establish Iloilo’s integrity in infrastructure spending following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s condemnation of flood control anomalies in his 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA).
“We cannot afford to take the role of just fence-sitters or observers on this controversial issue,” Mondejar told Panay News.
According to Mondejar, around 126 flood control projects are listed for Iloilo province with a total cost exceeding P5.7 billion: 47 projects in the 1st District (P1.12 billion), 15 in the 2nd (P1.17 billion), 20 in the 3rd (P864 million), 26 in the 4th (P1.11 billion), and 18 in the 5th (P1.02 billion).
He added that three additional projects, each worth P142 million, were listed without specific locations and targeted for completion by March 2024 — a red flag that prompted calls for scrutiny.
“May nakita ko da sa Sumbong sa Pangulo website nga questionable projects. May ara da nga tatlo ka projects nga pareho amount, wala sang specific nga location, pareho pa completion date. Amo na nga katingalahan gid,” Mondejar said.
“Diri sa probinsiya sang Iloilo, wala man ko gapati nga may ghost sa flood control projects. Amo gani nga ginbutang ko sa privilege speech ko nga ga-entertain ako idea nga ma-sponsor sang resolusyon ‘declaring the province of Iloilo nga ghost-free flood control projects.’ Galing sang nakita ko ang tatlo (projects), daw gaduda ko. So mas mayo gid nga ma-investigate,” he added.
Board Member Gonzales has supported broadening the probe beyond ghost projects, calling for verification of workmanship quality and compliance with design standards.
“Gin propose ni Board Member Gonzales, nga indi lang ghost. Checkon ta man kung defective ang pag-obra, substandard ang pag-obra, undersize, o wala maubra sang insakto,” Mondejar noted.
Mondejar said if the investigation confirms Iloilo’s flood control projects are legitimate and defect-free, he will sponsor a resolution declaring the province “ghost-free.”
Conversely, should anomalies be uncovered, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) will forward its findings to the Office of the President.
“Ako ya pabor gid ko ya, at least ma klarohan. Makabulig pa kami sa national government mo. Kong maklaro namon di’ sa probinsiya nga wala sang ghost, wala ‘ya depektibo, kapasar kami sang resolusyon,” Mondejar said. “Instead nga kadtuan pa nila (national government) diri, didto lang ma-focus sila sa iban nga probinsiya. Kay para sa akon, nationwide ini ya nga problema. Nationwide ini ya nga corruption, indi lang sa Bulacan.”
He stressed that a provincial-level audit would complement the efforts of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), helping the national government accelerate its probe into alleged “ghost” projects.
“Daw kabalik-awot man nga mangin fence-sitters lang kami diri or observers lang. Kinahanglan mahimo man kami paagi nga biskan paano makabulig man sa pag-address sining corruption nga ni,” he said./PN