Marcos vows to fix flood control problems

DPWH braces for sweeping internal 'cleansing' over ghost projects

- ARGYLL CYRUS GEDUCOS and TRIXEE ROSEL

President Marcos declared that he would not leave office until after the country's flood control problems have been resolved even as he called out corruption and poor workmanship in government projects.

"If there's one thing, I will not leave this office until I fix this. This is one of those things," Marcos said during an inspection of the Kennon Road rockshed project at Camp 6.

Barangay Camp 4, Tuba, Benguet, on Sunday, Aug. 24.

The President, joined by Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Tuba Mayor Clarita Sal-ongan, personally checked the 152-meter structure meant to protect motorists from landslides. He pointed out major defects, including collapsed slope protection and erosion under the road.

"You can see for yourself na talagang hindi tinrabaho nang mabuti ito (you can see for yourself that this was not properly done)," he said, adding that the project's supposed safeguards "collapsed immediately." Marcos noted that the P260 million spent on the project had "no effect whatsoever" in protecting the area.

"Parang walang ginawa (It's as if nothing was done)," he said.

"Wala silang itinayo, wala silang nilagay na wall, wala silang nilagay na riprap, wala silang nilagay na slope protection (They did not build anything, they did not put up a wall, they did not put a riprap, they did not put slope protection)," he added.

According to the President, fixing the infrastructure would cost the government more.

"To correct this will cost double that. That's my top-of-the-head estimate. P500 million ito para ayusin (to fix this)," he said.

"So, how can you tell me that it's not economic sabotage? Kinuha mo yung P260 million, wala kaming nakitang effect dun sa kanyang ginawa na kontrata (You took P260 million, but we didn't see the effect of that contract)," he added.