At A Glance
- Marcos noted that the P260 million spent on the project had “no effect whatsoever” in protecting the area.
President Marcos declared that he would not leave Malacañang until the country’s flood control problems were resolved, calling out corruption and poor workmanship in government projects.
Photo from the Philippine Information Agency-Cordillera Administrative Region (Facebook)
“If there’s one thing I will not leave this office until I fix this. This is one of those things,” Marcos said during an inspection of the Kennon Road rockshed project at Camp 6, Barangay Camp 4, Tuba, Benguet, on Sunday, Aug. 24.
The President, joined by Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Tuba Mayor Clarita Sal-ongan, personally checked the 152-meter structure meant to protect motorists from landslides. He pointed out major defects, including collapsed slope protection and erosion under the road.
“You can see for yourself na talagang hindi tinarabaho nang mabuti ito (you can see for yourself that this was not properly done),” he said, adding that the project’s supposed safeguards “collapsed immediately.”
Marcos noted that the P260 million spent on the project had “no effect whatsoever” in protecting the area.
“Parang walang ginawa (It’s as if nothing was done),” he said.
“Wala silang tinayo, wala silang nilagay na wall, wala silang nilagay na riprap, wala silang nilagay na slope protection (They did not build anything, they did not put up a wall, they did not put riprap, they did not put slope protection),” he added.
According to the President, fixing the infrastructure would cost the government more.
“To correct this will cost double that. That’s my top-of-the-head estimate. P500 million ito para ayusin (to fix this),” he said.
“So, how can you tell me that it’s not economic sabotage? Kinuha mo yung P260 million, wala kaming nakitang effect dun sa kanyang ginawa na kontrata (You took P260 million, but we didn’t see the effect of that contract),” he added.
Marcos linked the substandard work to what he described as economic sabotage, citing reports that local businesses lost 35 percent of their income due to road access disruptions.
“It’s not only the physical damage that you can see. It is also the damage to the economy. It is also the damage to the people’s livelihood,” he said.
“Naghahanap-buhay lang naman ito mga taong ito, tinanggal sa kanila 35 percent na dapat nilang hanapbuhay para ibulsa ang pera ng gobyerno (These people are just trying to earn a living, but 35 percent of their livelihood was taken from them just so government money could be pocketed),” he added.
The President also criticized the use of rock netting, which he said was notorious for corruption and had already been banned. He claimed the netting was overpriced fourfold, with a market price of P3,200 but charged to the government at P12,000.
“Kaya’t malala ito (That is why this is serious),” Marcos said, underscoring that contractors and suppliers were profiting while public safety and livelihoods were put at risk.
Sunday’s site visit was the fifth inspection the President conducted on problematic flood control projects.
“Panglima na yata nating inspection ito, and it’s always the same (This is probably our fifth inspection, and it’s always the same),” he said.
Malacañang earlier said that President Marcos was determined to see the investigation into flood control projects through.
The P273.93-million project was funded by the 2022 national budget. Implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways-Cordillera Administrative Region (DPWH-CAR), the project began in January 2023 and was completed in April 2025.
