But Mr. President, they're shameless

It was laughable to see lawmakers rise in a standing ovation and give the loudest applause to President Marcos when he called out politicians and government executives for corrupting funds for flood control projects. "What a joke!"

- IRIS GONZALES

This was the reaction of a contractor I talked to the day after Marcos' fourth State of the Nation Address. It was the biggest joke the contractor has heard, saying that many of the country's lawmakers are guilty of asking kickbacks from industry players like him.

Explained my source: Everyone involved in the process has a share — the congressman who represents the district and other figures in Congress who have the power to tinker with the budget, i.e., allocate or insert funds. And then there are corrupt officials within the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

And because it should be a "legitimate" process, there must be a "for-show" or moro-moro bidding with other bidders.

Therefore, my contractor source said, the "losing" bidders must also get a share. They will then be the "winning bidders" in the next project.

'Nakalagay sa mga maleta'

The contractor is required to advance the payment for all these kickbacks to the recipients. And because it's "dirty money," it's always on a cash basis — the bundles of cash are delivered in suitcases. "Nakalagay sa mga maleta," said my source.

Contractors will get their funds back when the DPWH releases the budget. But guess what? That last step will require another round of grease money.

And the cycle goes on and on, year in and year out, every budget season. For contractors — big or small — they have to get these kickbacks somewhere.