“I’m more than disappointed. I’m actually getting very angry. This is what’s happening here. I’m not disappointed, I’m angry.”
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday expressed anger upon seeing that a flood control project in Baliuag, Bulacan was not even started when the contractor already received payment.
The President ordered an investigation into the PhP55 million “ghost” project and the filing of charges for falsification and economic sabotage.
“Kitang-kita naman na hindi completed. So, immediately, that’s a falsification. That’s already a very big violation,” President Marcos said in a media interview after he inspected the reinforced concrete river wall project in Purok 4, Barangay Piel, Baliuag, Bulacan.
“And for the big ones, talagang I’m thinking very hard – pipilahan natin sila ng economic sabotage because economic sabotage is very clear,” the President said.
The Chief Executive also said the project review is still trying to identify the contractor, noting that the project involved multiple layers of subcontractors and that some documents are unavailable.
According to President Marcos, records at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) showed that the 220-meter-long reinforced concrete riverwall project, was already completed along with full payment of PhP55 million.
“Walang ginawa, kahit isang araw hindi nagtrabaho. Wala. Wala kang makita. Puntahan ninyo, wala kayong makita kahit na ano. Tuloy-tuloy ang pagbaha doon sa kabila,” said the President.
President Marcos said that if these projects had been properly executed and implemented, they could have addressed not only the flooding problems, but irrigation needs and household water supply as well.
“In the meantime, we have to actually still build the flood control project,” said the President.
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