P50-billion flood control projects in Cebu under scrutiny

National

THE Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have begun validating more than ₱50 billion worth of flood control projects in Cebu, covering works implemented from 2016 up to 2025.

The sweeping review follows the devastation brought by Typhoon Tino and the broader national probe into alleged irregularities in flood control spending.

In a report by Philstar, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon confirmed during a press briefing on Tuesday, Nov. 18, that he met with ICI officials to assess the scale and status of Cebu’s flood projects. He said the combined total of initiatives under scrutiny easily exceeds ₱50 billion, reflecting nearly a decade’s worth of infrastructure development.

Dizon stressed that the agency has yet to determine how many of these projects may be problematic. The validation process, he noted, remains in the early stages, with investigators examining whether each initiative contributed to flood prevention—or failed to deliver.

He emphasized that the review must be anchored on the 2017 flood management master plan for Cebu. The DPWH chief questioned why many of the plan’s key components were not fully implemented and said former secretary Mark “Babes” Villar had raised the same concerns.

“As of now, we’re checking which projects helped, which did not, and which may have made things worse,” he said, adding that a detailed report will soon be submitted to the ICI for evaluation.

Beyond the investigative work, Dizon said the government is also devising immediate measures to prevent a repeat of the severe flooding triggered by Typhoon Tino. He acknowledged the province’s vulnerabilities and stressed the need for coordinated engineering and disaster response interventions.(Xienderlyn Trinidad, USJ-R Comm Intern)