- 2 days ago
₱60 BILLION FOR FLOOD CONTROL IN CEBU. WHY IS CEBU STILL FLOODING? WHERE DID IT GO?
The Office of the Ombudsman is investigating around ₱60 billion worth of flood control projects in Cebu following severe flooding across the province.
With billions allocated for flood control, questions are being raised about the projects, their implementation, contractors, and effectiveness.
Where did the ₱60 billion go? Why are communities still experiencing severe flooding?
📺 Join us on Beyond the Headlines as we look deeper into the figures, the projects, and the questions surrounding Cebu’s flood control efforts.
Look Deeper. Think Better.
The Office of the Ombudsman is investigating around ₱60 billion worth of flood control projects in Cebu following severe flooding across the province.
With billions allocated for flood control, questions are being raised about the projects, their implementation, contractors, and effectiveness.
Where did the ₱60 billion go? Why are communities still experiencing severe flooding?
📺 Join us on Beyond the Headlines as we look deeper into the figures, the projects, and the questions surrounding Cebu’s flood control efforts.
Look Deeper. Think Better.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:23It starts with a fresh shot of espresso.
00:28Bold, rich, pulled just right.
00:33Then comes the milk, steamed smooth, creamy, and balanced.
00:38The perfect latte is not brushed.
00:41It is crafted one cup at a time.
00:45Your perfect latte is ready.
00:47Coffee first, then everything else.
00:52Good afternoon and welcome to Beyond the Headlines.
00:54I'm DJ Moises and today's conversation is brought to us by Coffee First.
00:59When it rains again, there will be no more flooding.
01:03That was the promise made to Cebuanos by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in November last year.
01:11As the government launched a major effort to clean and desail Cebu's waterways.
01:17The president said flooding in affected communities would greatly reduce within a year.
01:25That was November 2025.
01:28Now it is August 2026.
01:31And Cebu is still flooded.
01:34Let's look deeper and think better.
01:37Where did the money go?
01:40And did we spend it on the right things?
01:44Because according to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Boying-Rimulia,
01:49around $60 billion has been allocated for flood control projects in Cebu over the past six years.
01:57Cebu's 7th district accounted for the biggest share at 25% while another 25% went to a leading contractor.
02:09Former Congressman John Peter Calderon represented the district from June 2022 to 2025
02:16while Patricia Calderon succeeded her husband in June 2025.
02:23Congresswoman Patricia Calderon voted yes to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte.
02:30Rimulia's question is remarkably straightforward.
02:34Is the problem the design?
02:36Is it the execution?
02:38Or is it corruption?
02:41Today we go beyond the headlines.
02:43The Ombudsman has now announced a province-wide review of Cebu's flood control projects.
02:50Rimulia personally inspected the Mananga River Flood Control Project in Talisay
02:55and said investigators will examine whether projects were properly designed,
03:01constructed, and implemented according to their contracts.
03:05He specifically said investigators need to establish whether the problem is design,
03:11execution, implementation, or corruption.
03:16The Ombudsman will look at the following.
03:18Possible ghost projects.
03:21Substandard projects.
03:24Projects that may have been double-counted.
03:27Irregularities in bidding, implementation, and contract compliance.
03:32And the roles of DPWH regional and district officers and engineers and contractors.
03:40And here is where this investigation is important.
03:43A Sansta review on June 20, 2026, and that was written and published by our editor-in-chief,
03:52Bildred Galarpe, of DPWH Records, found that Cebu had more than 43 billion in 1,008 flood control projects
04:03from 2016 to 2025.
04:06More than 24.3 billion went into revetments, riverbank protection, seawalls, armor rock, and similar structural works.
04:20Several of the highest funded municipalities are in Cebu's 7th congressional district now,
04:28which is also consistent to what the Ombudsman reported yesterday.
04:566 of the top 10 projects are in the 7th district.
05:02Note as well that the remaining 4 in the top 10.
05:07Number 4 is Consolacion at 2.09 billion pesos.
05:14Talisay at number 5 at 2.003 billion pesos.
05:22Number 6 is Cebu City with 47 projects at 1.839 billion pesos.
05:30Number 8 is Mandawai City with 19 projects at 1.353 billion.
05:37So these 4, if we notice, were heavily flooded when Tino hit Cebu on November of last year.
05:47Is the problem the design?
05:50Is it execution or is it corruption?
05:54QM Builders and Kerante Construction Corporation together accounted for approximately 15.5 billion or around 36%.
06:05So this was the report that was published by Sunstar.
06:09Of Cebu's recorded flood control spending from 2016 to 2025.
06:14So if I will tie that also with the statement of Ombudsman Boying Rimulya,
06:21he did not specifically mention a particular contractor,
06:24but he did say that for the past six years,
06:28so lainlain sila gamayin, naigamayin kwan on the coverage,
06:30but for the past six years,
06:32the Ombudsman said that 25% of the 60 billion flood control projects in Cebu
06:39were actually awarded to just one contractor.
06:43So why so many projects concentrated among a small number of contractors?
06:50Last November, Cebuanos were promised that flooding would be greatly reduced within a year.
06:57Almost a year later, we are still asking why Cebu floods.
07:04And now Ombudsman Rimulya is asking another question.
07:09What happened to the billions?
07:12So that's what our conversation this morning is about.
07:17Now yesterday, I mentioned in passing that the Ombudsman was in Cebu.
07:23And as we can see, that's also the headline of today's release of Sunstar.
07:34Because he was here, in my view,
07:37is also consistent to the statement of President Bongbong Marcos Jr.
07:43when he said that he will investigate the flood control projects in Cebu.
07:49And true enough, yesterday, the Ombudsman was here.
07:52Now, if we look at the data that presented in the introduction of today's episode,
07:58the question actually is, did we spend enough?
08:01Because 60 billion pesos is still 60 billion pesos.
08:05That's a lot of money.
08:06So the question here is, did we spend on the right things?
08:12And I think the deeper one is, where did the money go?
08:18Now, if we are to look at the report that I cited,
08:23which was published in Sunstar June of this year,
08:27much of the projects can be categorized into the following.
08:32Seawall, which actually protects the shoreline,
08:35and then a river wall that protects a riverbank.
08:38So there was really no mention about overall management of watershed,
08:46which per our realization,
08:49when we were confronted by severe flooding during Typhoon Tino,
08:54that was a crucial information that also needed to be addressed.
08:59So, anong nakafocus man ta sa seawall,
09:01o anong nakafocus ang project sa river wall?
09:05So, those are things that we, everyday Cebuanos, should also be asking.
09:10The other thing also that I need to cite,
09:12because balik-balik na saan ni siya nga format,
09:14I mean, comment in the show na,
09:17daghan naman ta supposedly o ka nang projects,
09:20or plans to manage flooding in Cebu.
09:25And that's including our waterways and our drainage system.
09:29And the 27 master plan,
09:32and I have to go back to that again,
09:34and mubalik yun ko sa pangutan nag-iapo nag-kabalaka,
09:37the ones that were highlighted in the 2017 Metro Cebu flood and drainage system master plan
09:43were detention basins.
09:45Wala siya sa flood control, no?
09:47Nag-inyamorate na to.
09:49Flood control dams.
09:51Wala sad siya dito, no?
09:53Saka itong 6 gigi, butangan sa 60 billion.
09:56Watershed rehabilitation.
09:58Wala sad siya dito sa top 10 projects.
10:02Stricter land use regulation.
10:04I think we covered this,
10:06and this was also a lot of opportunities also to be managed in this area.
10:12And then relocation of structures,
10:15occupying river easements,
10:17and metropolitan-wide flood management.
10:20And I'll have to raise this question again,
10:22kahit yung ulan na raba, no?
10:23And it's August.
10:25Tino hit us November of last year.
10:27So that's just a few months away.
10:28Sa inyong tanaw, mga viewers, no?
10:31Wala na ba namalik tong nagpuyo sa river easements?
10:36No?
10:37Kana lang, no?
10:38Manguta na lang ko.
10:38Because that's also supposedly one of the action plans, no?
10:42That we had after the flooding.
10:45But the moral of the story here is,
10:48the flooding or the management of flood
10:51is not just about isolated project.
10:54It's supposed to be part of a master plan.
10:56And we already had the 27 master plans.
11:00So the question is,
11:01pag buho na to,
11:02sa 60 billion pesos,
11:04nganong wala na appeal tong nasa master plan?
11:08Nganong nakakoncentrate man siya sa seawall
11:10o sa mga river walls?
11:12Nganong mga riprop, no?
11:14Nganong na siya din to the pit na ipadolong.
11:16Why did we ignore the master plan?
11:19Now,
11:20we've also highlighted earlier that
11:23the projects were concentrated in the 7th district, no?
11:27So that means 6 of the top 10, no?
11:31Are in the 7th district.
11:33And to be fair with this district,
11:35we also gathered from the report, no?
11:38From the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, MGB,
11:41naka-identify po ni sila actually
11:43as kanang municipalities that are vulnerable, no?
11:47And they also have flooding history.
11:49So,
11:50dili ni siya question, at least, no?
11:51If we tie these two together,
11:53this is not a question whether these locations
11:55deserve to have their flood control projects, no?
12:00But,
12:01they merit
12:04closer examination.
12:06Why, no?
12:07Malabuyok,
12:08rank number one,
12:09if we recall.
12:10So, Malabuyok has 41 projects
12:13with 3.23 billion pesos, no?
12:18So, siya ang pinakadako, no?
12:21Sa tanan, tanan, no?
12:23And the second is Ronda, no?
12:25At 2.6 billion pesos.
12:28But let's go back lang for Malabuyok
12:29for data analysis lang.
12:32No conclusion, just analysis.
12:34Malabuyok, 41 projects,
12:363.23 billion.
12:38I-compare na ito siya sa Cebu City,
12:41which is a highly urbanized city.
12:44Cebu City actually has 41 projects.
12:49Ano?
12:49Cebu City has 47 projects.
12:52So, mas daghan sa Malabuyok na 41.
12:54But Cebu City had 1.84 billion.
12:58So, unsay na sa Malabuyok, no?
13:01Nga nung naman sila ay 3.23 billion,
13:04while ang Cebu City,
13:05which is also vulnerable to flooding,
13:08only had 1.84 billion.
13:11So, what's with Malabuyok?
13:12Again, I'm not concluding anything,
13:15but what I'm saying is,
13:16it's actually worth looking closely.
13:20Now, let's go for the top four.
13:22Mag-refresh it, no?
13:23Not the top four,
13:24but the remaining four, no?
13:26Of the six that are all concentrated
13:28in district,
13:30the 7th district, no?
13:32Consolation, Cebu City,
13:35Mandawi City, Talisay, no?
13:37So, they're the remaining four
13:39of the top 10.
13:41Refresher lang,
13:42Consolation is home to Kotkot River, no?
13:46So, pila'y nangamatay rin do, no?
13:48O pila'y kabuok na submerged, no?
13:51ng mga houses and properties
13:53in Consolation.
13:54And it is part of the top 10, no?
13:57Nag-ibutangan o billions of pesos
14:00for flood control projects.
14:03The other one is
14:05Butuanon River.
14:09Traverse ni siya through Cebu City
14:11and Mandawi City.
14:13And remember,
14:16Bakayan?
14:17And remember,
14:18Villa del Rio?
14:20This is where Butuanon River is.
14:23And kumusta tong katong samaayaw area
14:25na pertig yung lubunga, no?
14:27Sa tubig,
14:28that it looked like a lake already.
14:31After,
14:31that's also the other part
14:33of Butuanon River.
14:35And remember,
14:35SM City,
14:36Consolation, no?
14:38So,
14:38these were the areas
14:39that were submerged, no?
14:42Courtesy of Butuanon River,
14:44which, again,
14:45is part of the top 10, no?
14:48And then, finally,
14:49let's not forget Mananga River.
14:51So, this was the river
14:52that the ombudsman visited yesterday.
14:55And this is in Talisay City.
14:57Naka-recall pa mo
14:58sa nahitabo sa San Isidro
15:01o sa Dumlog in Talisay?
15:03And the extent of flooding, no?
15:06And the extent of damage, no?
15:09To properties.
15:10And I will have to say,
15:11these properties also
15:12has people in them, no?
15:14So, pilakapamilya
15:15ang scarred, no?
15:18Because of this.
15:19So, the four, after all,
15:21that heavily flooded Cebu
15:24during Typhoon Tino
15:25are part of the top 10.
15:28So, again,
15:29where did the money go?
15:31And I will have to quote,
15:32again, the ombudsman,
15:33is this a design problem
15:34of the flood control?
15:36Is this an implementation issue
15:38of the flood control money
15:39that was put in?
15:41Or is it corruption?
15:42So, let's surface these questions
15:47more and more
15:47in the coming days, no?
15:50So, now,
15:51let's go back to the present.
15:53Yesterday, we interviewed Pag-asa, no?
15:55And among the takeaway there
15:57is Pag-asa actually confirmed
15:59that the rains that fell last month,
16:02so that's July,
16:03and this month,
16:05which is August,
16:05they are within
16:07the normal range
16:09of rainfall.
16:11Meaning,
16:11hindi ito siya
16:12heavy rains na
16:13kanang abnormal na.
16:15No, they are within
16:15the normal range.
16:18But,
16:18if we recall last week,
16:20several parts of Cebu City,
16:23no?
16:23were actually flooded.
16:24Tisa,
16:25Guadalupe,
16:26Mabolo,
16:27no?
16:28And then,
16:29and along with
16:30Mandawe,
16:31which is also part of the top 10,
16:33the north reclamation area,
16:35and then the downtown area.
16:38So,
16:39what's with the,
16:40what's with the billions?
16:43If I recall,
16:43this is 1.8 billion pesos
16:45for Cebu City, no?
16:47So, what happened to that?
16:49Is it a design problem?
16:51Is it an implementation problem?
16:53Or is it corruption?
16:55No?
16:56Now, let's go to Mandawe,
16:57which is also part of
16:59the top 10.
17:00If you recall last week,
17:02AS Fortuna Memorial Elementary School
17:04in Barangay Guizo
17:06was flooded, no?
17:07Severe enough
17:08that classes were suspended
17:10the following day.
17:12Again,
17:12Mandawe City is also part of
17:14the top 10.
17:15And I will have to go back
17:17to
17:17the rainfall.
17:19It's within
17:20normal
17:21range.
17:23So,
17:23nga nung nagkagrabe naman
17:25ang flooding,
17:27through time,
17:29when
17:29the rainfall
17:30is just
17:32normal.
17:33So,
17:34is it
17:34our flood control
17:35projects?
17:36Is it the design?
17:37Is it the implementation?
17:39Or is it
17:40corruption?
17:42I'll just have to
17:43highlight that
17:44sa katong report,
17:45nag-release a Sunstar
17:46that was a total
17:47of 43 billion
17:48but nailayan man sila
17:49o period, no?
17:50But the
17:51Obunsmann
17:51also mentioned
17:52yesterday
17:53that 60
17:53billion pesos
17:55were poured
17:56in Cebu
17:56to manage
17:57flooding, no?
17:59So,
17:59it should have
18:00given us
18:01enough protection
18:02already
18:03by now,
18:05no?
18:05But obviously,
18:07Kayfuntino
18:08told us
18:09that
18:09they were,
18:11I don't know,
18:12dili sila effective,
18:13no?
18:13It did not,
18:14they did not
18:15protect lives.
18:16And last week
18:17in Cebu
18:18and Mandawe,
18:19it would also
18:19tell us that
18:20the situation
18:20is even
18:21getting
18:22worse,
18:23no?
18:23And earlier,
18:25I mentioned
18:26and don't worry,
18:28Murag mo yung
18:28siguro mga
18:29out of topic
18:29but I'll cover
18:30that,
18:31I'll close
18:31this topic
18:32but just
18:32allow me
18:32also to
18:33highlight
18:33that,
18:34di ba
18:34na-mention
18:35ako na
18:35si Congresswoman
18:36Calderon
18:36of the 7th
18:37District
18:38voted yes
18:39to the
18:39impeachment.
18:40Incidentally,
18:42all the rest
18:43of the top
18:4410
18:44also voted
18:46yes
18:46except
18:47Cebu City
18:48North
18:49District
18:50Congresswoman
18:51QT
18:51Del Mar.
18:52Silang tanan
18:53ni vote
18:54for the
18:54impeachment.
18:55So why did
18:56I bring
18:56that subject
18:57up?
18:57Out of topic
18:58man siya.
18:59Number one,
18:59I'm bringing
19:00that up
19:00because I'm
19:01surfacing that
19:02in our
19:02consciousness
19:03to also
19:04study closely
19:06the claim
19:06before
19:07that incidentally
19:08the ones
19:09who were
19:09tagged in
19:09the flood
19:10control report
19:11were the
19:11opposition.
19:12Basin ka ni
19:13ang change.
19:14Basin
19:14investigation
19:15will truly
19:16be done
19:16even if
19:17they voted
19:18yes
19:19to the
19:19impeachment.
19:20So that's
19:21why I'm
19:21surfacing that
19:22to connect
19:23to our
19:24realization
19:24in the
19:25past
19:25na ang
19:25kipang tag
19:26katulang
19:27opposition.
19:27Basin
19:28for a
19:28change
19:28ang
19:29kalyado
19:30are also
19:31being
19:31investigated.
19:32So let's
19:33continue to
19:33monitor that.
19:35And number
19:35two,
19:36I'm bringing
19:36that up
19:37because they
19:38voted
19:38against
19:39corruption
19:43and proper
19:44spending
19:45and reporting
19:46of government
19:46funds.
19:47So now
19:49this
19:49investigation
19:50is also
19:51worth
19:51looking
19:51closely
19:52are
19:53they
19:53measuring
19:54other
19:55officials
19:55according to
19:56the yardstick
19:57that they
19:57also measure
19:58themselves.
19:59And I'm
19:59bringing this
20:00up also.
20:01This is
20:01maturity for
20:02us
20:02Cebuanos.
20:04At least
20:05not a
20:06pattern
20:06that
20:06corrupt
20:07is
20:07corrupt
20:07is
20:07corrupt
20:08is
20:08but
20:08what
20:09is
20:09what
20:09is
20:09what
20:09is
20:11what
20:11is
20:12before we
20:15clear the
20:16speck on
20:16somebody's
20:17eyes
20:17we have to
20:18clear our
20:19own
20:19speck.
20:19The same
20:19before we
20:20attempt to
20:21clean the
20:22backyard
20:22of other
20:22people
20:23how
20:23how
20:27are
20:28yard?
20:28If
20:32corrupt
20:33more
20:33motivation
20:34for us
20:34to
20:34actually
20:35look
20:35into
20:35these
20:36cases
20:36more
20:37closely
20:37because
20:38we
20:38want
20:38government
20:39officials
20:39who
20:40hold
20:40others
20:40and
20:41themselves
20:41accountable
20:42in the
20:43context
20:44of
20:44corruption.
20:46So
20:46again
20:47I will
20:47have to
20:47highlight
20:48that
20:48this
20:48is
20:48political
20:49correlation.
20:50This
20:50is not
20:51causal
20:52connection
20:53because
20:53investigate
20:5460
20:55billion
20:56pesos
20:56poured
20:57into
20:58the
20:58top
20:5910
20:59and
21:00then
21:01is
21:02it
21:03design
21:03is it
21:04implementation
21:05or
21:06is it
21:06corruption?
21:07And I
21:08will have
21:08to close
21:09today's
21:09commentary
21:10on
21:11the
21:12president's
21:12promise.
21:14So
21:14this was
21:15made
21:15November
21:15of
21:162025
21:16and
21:17you
21:18can
21:18google
21:18because
21:19there
21:19are
21:19available
21:20videos
21:20that
21:21actually
21:22recorded
21:23this
21:23statement
21:23that
21:24he
21:24said
21:25at
21:25that
21:25time
21:25that
21:26in
21:26nine
21:26months
21:27or
21:27within
21:28a
21:28year
21:28this
21:29is
21:29November
21:29of
21:292025
21:30there
21:31would
21:31be
21:32no more
21:32flooding
21:32in
21:33Cebu
21:34but
21:35it's
21:35August
21:352026
21:36and
21:37Cebu
21:38is
21:38still
21:38flooded
21:39and
21:39per
21:39my
21:40observation
21:40it's
21:41getting
21:41worse
21:42not
21:42even
21:43better
21:43normal
21:44amount
21:44of
21:45rainfall
21:45nagkagrabi
21:46ang
21:47flooding
21:47and
21:48so
21:50with
21:51maturity
21:51with us
21:52everyday
21:52Cebuanos
21:53and everyday
21:53voters
21:54flooding
21:55alone
21:55of course
21:55does
21:56not prove
21:57corruption
21:57investigate
21:58but
22:00we need
22:01to
22:01continue
22:02to
22:02ask
22:03ourselves
22:03these
22:04questions
22:04where
22:05did
22:0660
22:06billion
22:07go
22:08in
22:09the
22:09top
22:0910
22:09and
22:11the
22:12government
22:12should
22:13have
22:14the
22:14decency
22:14to
22:15actually
22:16explain
22:16what
22:17worked
22:18what
22:20did
22:20not
22:20work
22:21and
22:22why
22:22they
22:23did
22:23not
22:24work
22:24in a
22:25nutshell
22:26these
22:27congressmen
22:28and women
22:29should at
22:30least
22:30give a
22:31statement
22:31what
22:33worked
22:33what
22:35did
22:35not
22:35work
22:36and
22:37why
22:38and
22:39finally
22:40this is
22:40addressed
22:41to all
22:41not
22:42just
22:42to
22:42this
22:42congressman
22:43or
22:44the
22:44leaders
22:44of
22:44this
22:45LGU
22:45this
22:46is
22:46addressed
22:47to
22:47all
22:48mahiya
22:49naman
22:49kayo
22:52okay
22:52sige
22:54so
22:54to
22:55all
22:55our
22:55viewers
22:56just
22:56in
22:56case
22:56you
22:57also
22:57have
22:57questions
22:57you
22:57can
22:57continue
22:58to
22:58engage
22:59in
23:00this
23:00conversation
23:01even
23:01if
23:01the
23:01episode
23:02has
23:02already
23:02ended
23:02we
23:03cannot
23:04prevent
23:04the
23:04rain
23:05as
23:05we
23:05know
23:05because
23:06that's
23:06part
23:06of
23:07nature
23:07but
23:08we
23:08can
23:08demand
23:09that
23:09every
23:09project
23:11and
23:12every
23:12decision
23:13will
23:13serve
23:14its
23:14purpose
23:14last
23:15November
23:16Cebuanos
23:17were
23:17promised
23:17that
23:18flooding
23:18would
23:18greatly
23:19be
23:20reduced
23:20within
23:21a
23:21year
23:22almost
23:23a
23:23year
23:23later
23:24we
23:24are
23:25still
23:25asking
23:25why
23:26Cebu
23:27is
23:27flooding
23:28what
23:28happened
23:29to
23:29the
23:2960
23:30billion
23:31pesos
23:32did
23:33we
23:33build
23:34what
23:34we
23:34said
23:34we
23:35would
23:35build
23:36did
23:36we
23:37pay
23:37what
23:37we
23:37said
23:38we
23:38should
23:38pay
23:39did
23:39we
23:40build
23:40it
23:41where
23:41it
23:41was
23:42needed
23:42and
23:43did
23:43it
23:43actually
23:44protect
23:44the
23:45people
23:46it
23:46was
23:46supposed
23:47to
23:47protect
23:48or
23:48the
23:49people
23:49who
23:50paid
23:50their
23:50taxes
23:52mahiya
23:53naman
23:53kayo
23:54I'm
23:55Cebu
23:56I'm
23:56DJ
23:56Moises
23:57a shout
23:58out to
23:58Coffee
23:58First
23:59for
23:59supporting
23:59conversations
24:00that
24:00matter
24:01let's
24:01continue
24:02to
24:02look
24:02deeper
24:02and
24:03think
24:03better
24:04this
24:04has
24:04been
24:04beyond
24:05the
24:05headlines
24:05have
24:06a
24:06good
24:06afternoon
24:12it
24:13starts
24:13with
24:13a
24:13fresh
24:14shot
24:14of
24:14espresso
24:16bold
24:17rich
24:18bold
24:19just
24:19right
24:21then
24:22comes
24:23the
24:23milk
24:23steamed
24:24smooth
24:25creamy
24:25and
24:26balanced
24:26the
24:27perfect
24:28latte
24:28is
24:29not
24:29brushed
24:29it
24:30is
24:30crafted
24:31one
24:32cup
24:32at
24:33a
24:33time
24:33your
24:34perfect
24:34latte
24:35is
24:35ready
24:35coffee
24:37first
24:37then
24:38everything
24:39else
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