P17B Flood Control Fund Scandal Exposes Government Corruption

Congressional Investigation Reveals Massive Flood Control Project Irregularities

In a stunning revelation on Tuesday, Navotas Representative Tobias Tiangco exposed alleged irregularities involving P17 billion in flood control project allocations linked to former Appropriations Committee chairman Elizaldy Co and affiliated party-lists.

The disclosure comes as part of a broader ongoing investigation into flood control project corruption that has captured national attention. According to Tiangco's detailed breakdown, the allocations include:

• P2.295 billion for Ako Bicol Party-list
• P2.064 billion for BHW Party-list
• P13 billion under Zaldy Co's direct name

Economic Impact of Corruption

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto's testimony at a Senate budget hearing revealed the devastating economic impact of these irregularities. Similar to recent warnings about economic challenges affecting governance, corruption in infrastructure projects has resulted in losses exceeding P100 billion since 2023.

"We could have grown by 6 percent if there was no corruption," Recto emphasized, highlighting how these practices have significantly impacted national development goals.

Systemic Issues and Oversight Failures

The investigation has revealed concerning parallels with other governance issues, reminiscent of recent scrutiny over public project management and oversight. Particularly troubling is the revelation about Co's ownership of Sunwest Construction and Development Corp., which has secured 18% of flood control projects in the past three years.

Call for Accountability

Representative Tiangco has challenged Co to address these allegations directly, emphasizing the need for transparent investigation and accountability in public spending. The case highlights the critical importance of oversight in government infrastructure projects and the need for reform in project allocation processes.