Lacson bares substandard, ghost flood control projects in Luzon, tags Bulacan ‘most notorious’

Metro Manila, Philippines - Several flood control projects in Luzon have come under Senate scrutiny after Senator Ping Lacson alleged that they were funded through congressional insertions and were either substandard, incomplete, or entirely non-existent.

In a privilege speech titled “Flooded Gates of Corruption” delivered at the Senate plenary on Wednesday, Aug. 19, Lacson presented photos and documents detailing the allegedly anomalous projects.

Lacson labeled Bulacan as the “most notorious,” citing around 30 ghost projects based on reports from public works officials, insiders, and even contractors.

He identified the following riverbank protection projects — each priced at ₱77 million — but had no signs of construction when his team visited the sites:

Barangay Babatnin, Malolos (Contractor: Wawao Builders)

Barangay Babatnin, Malolos (Contractor: Darcy and Anna Builders)

Barangay Carillo, Hagonoy (Contractor: Darcy and Anna Builders)

Barangay Abulalas, Hagonoy (Contractor: Darcy and Anna Builders)

Barangay Iba, Hagonoy (Contractor: Wawao Builders)

Barangay San Nicolas, Hagonoy (Contractor: Wawao Builders)

“Pare-parehong contract price: ₱77.199 million. Pare-parehong Riverbank Protection Structure. Pare-parehong guni-guni,” Lacson said.

[Translation: Same contract price: ₱77.199 million. Same Riverbank Protection Structure. Same hallucination.]

He added that during a site visit to Barangay Iba, his team was surprised to see a different project altogether.

“Mukhang ang modus, tatapalan ang ghost project ng ibang proyekto at ang masama, ang milyong-milyong gastos, mula na naman sa taumbayan,” he said.

[Translation: It seems the modus operandi is to cover up the ghost project with another project, and the worst part is, millions in expenses come once again from the people.]

Wawao Builders was already mentioned during the first hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which the firm did not attend. Meanwhile, Lacson said that Darcy and Anna Builders appeared to be a "ghost" contractor, adding that its registered address in Cardona, Rizal turned out to be a gym and payment center — not a construction firm.

Lacson attributed the scheme to a “well-organized syndicate” operating within Bulacan’s First District Engineering Office.

“Ang kanilang modus, manghihiram ng lisensya sa mga suki nilang contractors. Gamit ang lisensya ng contractors, sila na ang mag-i-implement ng projects o kung hindi man, magpoproseso ng mga dokumento para lumabas na ‘completed’ na ang ghost projects,” he said.

[Translation: Their modus operandi is to borrow licenses from their trusted contractors. Using the contractors’ licenses, they either implement the projects themselves or, if not, they process the documents so that the ghost projects appear as ‘completed.’]

He said his office is ready to name those involved and present witnesses.

According to Lacson, kickbacks from anomalous flood control projects are allegedly divided among district engineers, members of the bids and awards committee, audit personnel, and politicians — leaving only around 40% of the funds for actual implementation.

’Congressional insertions, substandard projects’

In La Union, Lacson cited the sudden allocation of millions for the Bauang River Basin in 2024 — despite it not being included in the National Expenditure Program submitted by Malacañang.

He also questioned flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro, which a House lawmaker allegedly claimed credit for.

Two notable projects — the ₱95 million Barangay Burbuli project and the ₱231 million Barangay Butas River project — were funded through unprogrammed appropriations. Lacson emphasized that such appropriations are only allowed if there are excess revenue collections, funds from new tax or non-tax sources, or loans.

“Napakalakas naman po yata ni Congressman,” Lacson said.

Meanwhile, Barangay Mulawin in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro received ₱1.9 billion for flood control projects. However, drone footage from Lacson’s office reportedly showed dikes that were easily destroyed by typhoons.

He added that several other barangays in Naujan also had damaged and substandard dikes.

In his speech, Lacson also questioned the repeated repairs of the riverbank mitigation project in Candating, Arayat in Pampanga province which reportedly received millions in funding since its original ₱20 million construction in 2018 — ballooning to ₱183 million in 2024 — all under the same contractor.

“Mayroon na silang standard para sa substandard [They have a new standard for substandard],” Lacson said.