Ombudsman urged to probe alleged irregularities in Davao flood control projects

MANILA, Philippines — House Deputy Minority Leader Antonio Tinio (ACT Teachers Party-list) has requested the Office of the Ombudsman to conduct an investigation into 80 "red-flagged" flood control projects in Davao City totaling P4.44 billion, citing massive technical irregularities, potential "ghost projects" and double payments.

In a letter addressed to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Tuesday, May 19, Tinio cited a report from an independent investigation conducted by the ACT Teachers Party-list, which scrutinized 121 flood control projects along the Davao and Matina Rivers implemented between 2019 and 2022. 

The group’s findings revealed systemic vulnerabilities across 80 different contracts, the largest portion of which involved a lack of transparency. 

The following are the partylists’ findings, according to Tinio:

   •  Total Overlap (P135 M): Two contracts funded construction on identical river sections, suggesting ghost projects or double payment.
   •  Double Funding (P115 M): The same project appeared twice in GAA 2020 and was awarded to two different contractors.
   •  Location Change & Shortchanging (P425 M): Eight projects were built at different locations with significantly shorter lengths than appropriated, yet contractors received nearly full payment.
   •  Contracts Without Specifications (P3.56 B): 65 contracts lacked station numbers or defined lengths, making verification impossible and enabling ghost projects.
   •  No GAA Authorization (P623 M): 10 contracts had no corresponding line item in the GAA, representing potentially illegal expenditures.
   •  Incomplete Projects (P713 M): 10 contracts remain incomplete years past their expiry dates— three are paradoxically tagged "100% complete" yet still "On-Going," while one project (Matina Pangi Bridge 3) is only 64% complete after five years; and
   •  Congressional Insertions: 49 of the 80 red-flagged contracts are congressional insertions, all concentrated in Davao City's 1st Legislative District.

Tinio also pointed out that the leading contractor, Genesis88 Construction Inc., which reportedly has documented ties to the previous administration, secured 10 contracts valued at P713 million, while the top five contractors combined accounted for over half of the total flagged amount. 

Consequently, he called on the Ombudsman to launch a deep inquiry into the flood control initiatives, stressing that investigators must prioritize the physical verification of projects that are either unfinished or contradictorily marked as both complete and ongoing. 

“These incomplete flood control structures leave Davao City residents vulnerable to deadly flooding. The failure to deliver critical infrastructure—while contractors and officials potentially profit—may constitute criminal negligence,” Tinio said.