The large parts of the Philippines remain vulnerable to flooding. The government has funded a large number of anti-flood measures, including 3 in Sulu province. While many projects are officially completed, recent investigations have revealed many are only partially delivered or have used sub-standard material. Image Source: ABS-CBN

The flood mitigation scandal has also returned Sulu to the national spotlight, with national media fixating on Representative Munir Arbison of Sulu’s 2nd District, who is related to the top shareholder of Nirrain Construction and Supply Corp.

Representative Munir Arbison of Sulu’s 2nd District is related to the top shareholder of Nirrain Construction and Supply Corp.

While the firm has not been involved in anti-flood initiatives in Sulu, and there is no evidence of wrongdoing, the association has fueled scrutiny amid a broader public reckoning over political ties and infrastructure contracts.

Reports indicate at least 18 lawmakers from the 20th Congress have either direct ownership or personal connections to companies that have received public works contracts. Though not all cases involve flood control, the revelations have deepened public skepticism about the overlap between business and politics, and sparked calls for stricter conflict-of-interest regulations in government procurement.

Where has the money gone?

A staggering ₱545 billion (US$9.4 billion) has been allocated since 2022 to mitigate flooding, yet a government probe has revealed serious irregularities in the implementation of flood control projects. Investigators discovered hundreds of incomplete, poorly executed, or even entirely nonexistent projects.

Indeed, in Bulacan, the province that has received the highest number of flood mitigation projects in recent years, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. conducted a surprise visual inspection of two sites. His findings were troubling: some projects had been reported as “completed” despite being only partially finished, while others were constructed using materials that did not meet the required specification, all clear signs of the corrupt siphoning of federal funds. Bulacan’s case, while not unique, has come to symbolize the corruption dividing paperwork and real-world implementation.

Visual inspections by President Marcos Jr. has revealed false reports of completed projects and use of sub standard materials in Bulacan.

Such corruption recalls the earlier “pork barrel” scams—in which funds were allocated based on political benefit and often vanished—and the recent conviction of Johanne Edward B. Labay, the former president and chief executive officer of the Farmer Business Development Corporation (FBDC). The FBDC had misappropriated funds intended for development in Sulu despite having no presence in the province and delivering no projects.

Similar to earlier “pork barrel” discrepancies, just 15 out of 2,409 accredited contractors secured contracts worth a collective ₱100 billion in anti-flood projects. The remaining ₱436 billion was spread among the rest. Some projects, despite being located in different regions, also carry identical pricing—a red flag commonly associated with bid manipulation.

Despite being located in different regions, many anti-flood projects carry identical pricing—a red flag commonly associated with bid manipulation.

Ongoing Suspicion and Reckoning in Manila

As revelations continue to emerge, the House of Representatives has ordered its Infrastructure Committee to take action. Given the attention drawn to the widespread connections between members of government and firms drawing funding for infrastructure projects, members of its three subpanels will be required to submit sworn affidavits confirming they hold no conflicts of interest in relation to the flood control projects under review. Critics argue that without formalized legal consequences backing these affidavits, the measure would amount to little more than a self-granted proof of innocence.

As the Philippines enters a period of investigation and introspection, the scale of the alleged mismanagement highlights the pervasive reach of corruption and the billions of public funds that have vanished whether in Sulu or Manila.

REFERENCES

Caronan, R. (2025, August 17). MAP: Flood control projects in Mindanao. ABS CBN Corporation. https://www.abs-cbn.com/

Flores, D. N. (2025, September 3). Conflict disclosures in House flood control probe hinge on lawmakers’ honesty. Philstar.com. https://www.philstar.com/

Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. (2025, August 30). DOCUMENT: Records of flood control contractors. Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. https://pcij.org/