From Flood Control to Firestorm: Inside the ₱1.9-Trillion DPWH Corruption Scandal

DAVAO CITY (October 1) — What was meant to shield Filipinos from climate change, induced flooding has instead exposed the nation to a political storm of historic proportions. A p1.9-trillion “flood control program” has unraveled into one of the largest corruption scandals in Philippine history, dragging figures from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to the House of Representatives, and even into the Senate.

The scandal’s public face emerged when the government contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II and his wife, Sarah, owner of nine (9) construction firms, a longtime contractors in government infrastructure, surfaced as key players in the alleged racket.

Their testimonies, backed by documents and initial audits, revealed how flood control projects across the country were either ghost undertakings, substandard works, or politically engineered insertions in the national budget.

What began as whispers in the halls of DPWH soon spilled over into the political arena, implicating lawmakers who are supposed to legislate safeguards against the very crime they now stand accused of.

September 21: A Protest Becomes a Movement

The anniversary of Martial Law—September 21—has long been a day of remembrance. This year, however, it became a day of reckoning. Tens of thousands poured into the streets from Manila to Mindanao, carrying placards not only denouncing the dictatorship of the past but condemning what they see as a betrayal of democracy in the present.

Organizers framed the rally around three major demands:

Immediate arrest and prosecution of officials and contractors behind anomalous projects.

Full disclosure of Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) and lifting of bank secrecy for public officials.

Strengthening of independent anti-corruption bodies, including granting subpoena powers and insulating them from political influence.

The protests echoed the Million People March of 2013 against the pork barrel scam, but this time the outrage zeroed in on the misuse of flood control allocations spanning nearly 15 years. By choosing September 21, protest leaders deliberately evoked the memory of Martial Law, warning that unchecked greed can be just as corrosive to democracy as unchecked power.

Ghost Projects and Ghost Accountability

The case of Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental, contracted under St. Timothy Construction Corp., illustrates the depth of deception. Local officials only discovered that a P96.5-million flood control project existed on paper when DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon arrived to inspect it. The project was reported “completed” and fully paid in 2022, yet only began construction weeks before the visit.

Further investigation revealed at least nine more projects in the town costing close to P1 billion—were either incomplete, substandard, or entirely unknown to the local government. Missing signboards, absent consultations, and shoddy workmanship point to a deliberate attempt to hide these projects in plain sight.

Across the country, similar stories have emerged: bridges without approaches, roads without drainage, dikes that collapse after a single downpour. What was supposed to protect lives and livelihoods has instead endangered them.

The Political Firestorm

The scandal escalated when Senator Panfilo Lacson, known for scrutinizing pork and insertions in the budget, alleged that nearly all members of the Philippine Senate had benefited from the flood control allocations. His claim jolted the upper chamber, forcing denials, counteraccusations, and frantic efforts to deflect blame.

Meanwhile, in the House of Representatives, insertions linked to party-list groups and district lawmakers are now under review. Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co, among others, has been tagged in requests to freeze billions in assets tied to questionable contracts.

The finger-pointing frenzy has since become the default defense. Officials name colleagues, contractors accuse lawmakers, and lawmakers blame bureaucrats. Yet as of today, no formal charges have been filed in court. The Independent Commission for Infrastructure, created by the President to investigate, has yet to release its findings.

A Cycle of Money and Power

The controversy has revived uncomfortable truths about Philippine politics. Contractors have long been accused of financing campaigns in exchange for post-election projects. Lawmakers, in turn, are alleged to secure budget allocations with the expectation of kickbacks, rationalizing these as reimbursements for electoral spending.

In theory, Congress wields the power of the purse to allocate funds for public good. In practice, critics argue, it has become a mechanism to perpetuate patronage and self-enrichment. The Senate, tasked with oversight, now finds itself accused of dipping into the same pot.

From Flood Control to Fire Out of Control

What began as a technical audit of flood control projects has ballooned into a national firestorm engulfing multiple branches of government. It is a test not only of the institutions tasked with curbing corruption but also of the public’s resolve to demand accountability.

The September 21 protests were more than symbolic, they were a warning shot. As one placard read: “Kung kaya niyo kaming lunurin sa baha ng korapsyon, kaya naming lunurin ang katahimikan.” (If you can drown us in a flood of corruption, we can drown silence with outrage.)

Whether this outrage leads to lasting reform or fades into another chapter of unpunished scandal remains to be seen. For now, the flood control controversy has become a fire out of control—one that threatens to consume not just public funds, but public trust itself.

Chronological Timeline of the Flood Control Corruption Scandal

2010s – Early Allocations

Flood control projects begin receiving larger shares of the national budget as climate change and severe flooding intensify across the country.

Contractors with political ties reportedly corner contracts, with little oversight at the local level.

2018 – Allocation of Key Projects

The P96.5-million Jose Abad Santos (JAS) flood control project in Davao Occidental is funded under the national budget.

Similar allocations are made nationwide, with many projects quietly embedded as “insertions” in DPWH programs.

2020–2022 – Paper Completions

On DPWH records, several flood control projects, including the JAS revetment, are marked as “completed” and fully paid.

Locals, however, remain unaware such projects exist; no billboards or consultations are conducted.

Substandard or incomplete works begin surfacing in different provinces.

2023 – Rumblings of Anomalies

Engineers, local executives, and watchdogs raise red flags about ghost projects and defective structures.

Independent journalists and citizens’ groups begin tracing allocations against actual on-the-ground outputs.

Mid-2024 – Initial Investigations

Reports leak that billions in DPWH projects may be tied to anomalous allocations.

Civil society organizations call for a formal inquiry, pointing to suspiciously repetitive “flood control” projects across districts.

September 2024 – Freezing of Assets

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), upon DPWH request, freezes over 135 bank accounts, 27 insurance policies, and luxury vehicles linked to officials and contractors.

The Discaya couple, along with several DPWH personnel, emerge as central figures.

Early 2025 – Aviation Assets Uncovered

Air assets worth billions, linked to Rep. Elizaldy Co and tied to his companies, are placed under scrutiny.

The Civil Aviation Authority confirms ownership of helicopters and jets allegedly purchased through anomalous proceeds.

August 2025 – Independent Commission Formed

The President establishes the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to probe anomalies.

Witness protection is extended to the Discaya couple and former DPWH officials willing to testify.

September 2025 – Field Inspections Reveal Ghost Projects

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon and Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong inspect the supposed flood control project in Jose Abad Santos.

They discovered that construction had only begun weeks earlier, despite records showing completion in 2022.

At least nine other uncoordinated projects in JAS are revealed, some substandard, incomplete, or entirely missing.

September 21, 2025 – Martial Law Anniversary Protests

Tens of thousands join rallies nationwide, turning the commemoration of Martial Law into a day of protest against corruption.

Protesters demand accountability, transparency of SALNs, and stronger anti-corruption oversight.

Late September 2025 – Senate Allegations

Senator Panfilo Lacson alleges that nearly all senators benefited from flood control insertions in the 2025 budget.

The scandal escalates into a firestorm engulfing both chambers of Congress.

Back in Davao region, Dizon in a show-cause orders dated September 26 but was released on the 27th, has ordered DPWH-Davao Regional Director Juby B. Cordon and Rodrigo C. Larete, district engineer of the Davao Occidental District Engineering Office to explain their roles in a questionable flood control project that appears to exist only on paper.

Both were given five days from receipt of the directive to submit a sworn explanation detailing why they should not face administrative charges over the “ghost” project.

The controversy adds to mounting questions over the integrity of multimillion-peso infrastructure projects in the region, particularly those tied to flood control and disaster mitigation funds. Observers say the orders could be a litmus test of DPWH’s willingness to hold its own officials accountable in the face of allegations of corruption, substandard work, and incomplete projects that have plagued the department for years.

October 2025 -Ongoing Fallout

No formal charges have been filed, but political finger-pointing intensifies.

The ICI has yet to publish findings; DPWH vows to complete critical projects but faces credibility issues.

Public anger remains high, with corruption likened to a “flood” drowning trust in government. As it is now, the taxpayers expect that the Independent Commission will not only uncover the truth but erring officials will be held accountable.-Editha Z. Caduaya