Executive Order of Marcos Jr. Cites Broad Power for Independent Body To Investigate Infra Projects
MARCOS JR. – The President has officially ordered the creation of an independent probe team with the power to move for the freezing or seizure of assets linked to anomalies.
The flood control issues has greatly disappointed Pres. Bongbong Marcos. In Bulacan province alone, he found a ‘ghost’ Riverwall project that cost the government over P55 million and another flood control project that was found ‘incomplete and substandard’.
Pres. Bongbong Marcos stressed that the Philippines’ spending on flood control projects has reached P545 billion — for the government flood control deals from July 2022 to May 2025. He flagged down 15 contractors that got around 18% of the said total spending of the country on flood control deals.
According to Marcos Jr., here are the 15 contractors that were awarded with around P100 billion of the country’s total expenses on flood control projects:
- Legacy Construction Corporation
- Alpha & Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp.
- St. Timothy Construction Corporation
- QM Builders
- EGB Construction Corporation
- Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc.
- Centerways Construction and Development Inc.
- Sunwest, Inc.
- Hi-Tone Construction & Development Corp.
- Triple 8 Construction & Supply, Inc.
- Royal Crown Monarch Construction & Supplies Corp.
- Wawao Builders
- MG Samidan Construction
- L.R. Tiqui Builders, Inc.
- Road Edge Trading & Development Services
Amid the issue, both the Senate and the House of Representatives are conducting an investigation. Each chamber has opened a probe that has already invited several officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as well as the contractors flagged by the President.
Marcos Jr. wanted the creation of an independent team that will probe the infrastructure projects funded by the government amid the flood control mess. Based on a report on PhilStar, the President has officially ordered the creation of the said committee through the Executive Order No. 94.
The independent team that Pres. Bongbong Marcos ordered to be formed will be composed of three (3) people — a chairman and two (2) members with “proven competence, integrity, probity, and independence”. It was previously mentioned that Pres. Marcos wants a “subpoena power” for the independent commission and the team indeed has the power.
Furthermore, the independent team that Marcos Jr. ordered to be formed also has the power for the freezing or seizure of assets that are linked to anomalies. Based on the report, the team or the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) will also look into the violations of laws like the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
“It is imperative to constitute an independent body that will investigate and undertake appropriate measures against those involved in irregularities in government infrastructure projects,” the President said in his Executive Order.
Amid the issue, the Department of Public Works and Highways earned massive criticisms. Recently, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon requests the help of the PNP and the AFP in the inspection of the flood control projects funded by the government.