The Council of Concerned Citizens (C3) Bacolod held Sept. 22 the first on-site inspection of four completed flood control projects in the highly-urbanized city, and stressed that the “investigation has raised more technical, legal, and financial questions than answers”.
“While no ghost projects were found, questions remain about design integrity, bidding processes, contractor accountability, and the true necessity of some flood control structures,” Fr. Aniceto “Mao” Buenafe, C3 Bacolod lead convenor, said in a press release.
He said the inspected projects include the Lupit River Phase 7 flood control structure, worth P96.5 million and spanning 1,235 meters, implemented by Legacy Construction/MKU; the Loygoy River Phase 1 revetment with floodwall, covering 1,700 meters and worth P91.6 million, also by Legacy Construction/MKU; the 1,089-meter Ngalan River revetment with floodwall, P96.5 million, by C’Zarles/JVC Tough Core; and the Bakyas Creek revetment with floodwall, also costing P96.5 million and extending 1,194 meters, by C’Zarles/JVC Tough Core.
These four projects were reported completed in 2024, Buenafe said, adding that per initial findings, several concerns cropped up, including the necessity and sustainability of the flood control structures, durability of concrete mix and appropriateness of design, and the “apparent non-observance of standard river easements in these projects.”
“The legality of the contractors’ joint ventures cannot be verified as special licenses and JVA documents are unavailable. If subcontracted by royalty arrangements, accountability extends to both the contractors and the Department of Public Works and Highways,” Buenafe said.
He assured that the C3 will conduct further site inspections across Bacolod and Negros Occidental; secure and review all project records from the DPWH, including contracts, programs of work, and bills of quantities; and publish evidence-based reports to ensure that accountability and transparency are upheld.
“The people of Bacolod and Negros deserve genuine transparency, authentic competitive bidding, and full accountability for every peso spent,” he stressed as he reiterated C3 Bacolod’s commitment to “make the culprits in fraudulent flood control and other public infrastructure projects accountable and brought to trial, while advancing good governance and transparency”.
The newly-formed group, which is committed to an independent investigative mission, noted that from 2017 to 2025, Bacolod alone was allocated P4.28 billion for flood control projects, while 138 flood control projects all over Negros, worth around P11 billion, are on record.
“These figures demand rigorous inspection and honest reporting,” Buenafe said.
The C3 earlier said that another four infra projects will be inspected today, Sept. 23. “The inspection is free from any suspicion of politicking or partisanship.”
The site investigation yesterday was led by 24 inspectorate members of C3 Bacolod, accompanied by representatives from the DPWH, the Office of the Mayor, and of the Lone District of Bacolod. ||
