Marcos orders LGU sign-off to complete DPWH projects
Metro Manila, Philippines - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the reinstatement of a policy that requires local government units (LGUs) to sign off on Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects as the last step to completion.
Marcos said he instructed the agency to reimplement the policy, which he described as a safeguard to ensure projects are implemented correctly.
“Tinanggal no’ng last administration ‘yong acceptance,” Marcos revealed in a briefing on Monday, Sept. 15.
[Translation: The acceptance policy was scrapped during the last administration.]
In August, Marcos also issued a directive to reinstitute the rule that national government agencies should coordinate first with LGUs before project implementation.
The back-to-back orders are apparent attempts to plug loopholes that have led to millions in corrupted flood control funds.
The president has formed the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to investigate fraud in flood control and related projects in the last 10 years.
Government-issued warranty
Meanwhile, Marcos said personalities and groups that will be found liable by the ICI should honor government-issued warranty and complete projects according to specifications at their own expense.
“We can still go back to them at sasabihin natin sa kanila: Balikan ninyo ‘yong walang kwentang project na ginawa ninyo at ayusin niyo nang maganda out of your own pocket,” he said.
[Translation: We can still go back to them and tell them: Redo your useless project, fix it out of your own pocket.]
On the other hand, he said the ICI probe must be devoid of politics. Think tank IBON Foundation said billions in flood control funds went to ruling political parties.
The president also said that allies, including his cousin and Speaker Martin Romualdez, won’t be spared in the investigation.
“Simple lang to. Magkano ang ninakaw na pera ng mga balasubas na ito? [This is simple. How much was pocketed by swindlers?] That’s what we need to know, that’s what we need to fix,” Marcos said.
“Let us not focus on the politics of it. Let us focus on simple pesos and centavos of it,” he said.
Where will flood control funds go?
Marcos showed the “menu” of viable government projects where the nearly P270 billion budget set aside for flood control projects next year can be reallocated.
He previously said there is no funding for such projects in 2026 given the current unspent amount.
Marcos said more funding should instead go to education, agriculture, health, housing, infrastructure and information and communications technology, labor, social, and energy.
