Furious Pam: Heads should roll after massive flooding

Local

FURIOUS over what she calls years of neglect, Gov. Pamela “Pam” Baricuatro is demanding accountability after Typhoon Tino exposed the shortcomings of billions of pesos in flood control projects across Cebu.

The typhoon left more than a hundred dead, displaced thousands, and submerged entire neighborhoods, prompting the governor to criticize previous administrations for failing to implement lasting flood control measures.

“I am furious sa nahitabo karon nato dire sa Sugbo. This has to be investigated. Kaning flooding nato, this could have been prevented. How come wala ‘ni nila nahimuan og paagi before?” Baricuatro said.

Baricuatro said the province’s worst flooding in years reflects not just natural disaster but also a failure of leadership.

She plans to raise the issue directly with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who visited Cebu on Friday, Nov. 7.

“We will discuss with President Marcos regarding sa P26 billion (flood control) funds. It’s not enough nga resilient ang mga Cebuanos. Justice has to be also looked into. Nganong nahitabo ‘ni karon? Tagaan ta’g hustisya ang mga Cebuano kon nganong nahitabo ang flash flood diri sa atoang province,” she added.

Data from the Sumbong sa Pangulo platform show that 414 flood control projects worth P26.7 billion were implemented in Cebu between 2022 and 2025.

Despite this, towns from Minglanilla to Danao City were severely affected.

Baricuatro confirmed that her office has submitted requested documents to the National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI-7), which is probing the flood control projects.

The findings will be forwarded to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), established by President Marcos to investigate corruption in major public works.

The governor also cited unregulated quarrying near the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL), Cebu’s main watershed, as a factor that worsened flooding.

She said siltation and runoff from upland areas intensified the flash floods across Metro Cebu and surrounding towns.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon earlier said the province’s flood control systems “failed to function” during Typhoon Tino, describing them as “poorly planned” and “poorly executed.”

He stressed that flood mitigation requires redesigning systems upstream, rather than relying solely on downstream barriers.

In response, Malacañang ordered a comprehensive review of more than 500 flood control projects in Cebu.

Of these, 343 were completed under the Duterte administration, and 168 were implemented from 2023 to 2025 under the Marcos administration.(MyTVCebu)