Sparked by Councilor Jonas Abadilla’s post on the SK Federation’s inquiry to DPWH, the story reflects a growing movement of young leaders seeking clarity and accountability, reminding the public that scrutiny, not suspicion, is the real measure of good governance.
The DPWH replied in full, and took responsibility.
The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation of Muntinlupa City has written to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Las Piñas-Muntinlupa District Engineering Office to seek clarity on the selection and implementation of flood control projects in the city, including two in Barangay Poblacion worth a combined ?143.5 million.
In its letter dated September 25, 2025, the SK Federation, joined by youth councils and alliances from Barangay Poblacion and Southville 3 raised concerns about how infrastructure priorities are identified and approved, particularly amid public speculation over several projects.
Among the questions raised: who decides which flood control projects get implemented, what criteria are used to select locations, and who approved the ?49 million project near Caltex and the ?94.5 million project in Southville 3. The youth groups also asked whether any Muntinlupa projects were part of ongoing investigations into substandard DPWH works.
‘We believe that transparency must be achieved in order to foster inclusivity, ethical governance, and genuine service to our constituents,’ the SK letter read. ‘We seek clarity to ensure that information shared with our fellow citizens is accurate and not subject to abuse.’
In its reply, the DPWH District Engineering Office thanked the SK for its vigilance and clarified that project identification and implementation are handled by the DPWH in coordination with local governments and district representatives, but that final approval rests with the DPWH Central Office, under the General Appropriations Act passed by Congress.
DPWH also explained that flood control projects are identified based on community vulnerability, technical studies, and protection of existing infrastructure.
The ?49 million Caltex-area project, it said, is part of a broader series of flood mitigation works along the Magdaong River, completed in 2022 to prevent bank erosion threatening the national road.
The ?94.5 million Southville 3 project, meanwhile, is preventive in nature: meant to avert erosion and landslides near a proposed national link road. It remains suspended pending DENR permits, with no payments yet made to the contractor.
The agency stressed that no projects in Muntinlupa are currently under investigation for substandard work, and that all undergo ‘strict quality control’ monitored by DPWH and independent auditors.
For the SK Federation, the inquiry was an exercise in responsible citizenship – a way of using its mandate to promote transparency beyond youth programming.
Observers say the move represents a healthy shift in the culture of local governance: one where young leaders seek data and clarity from state institutions, instead of amplifying political noise. By asking, and receiving direct answers, the youth of Muntinlupa have shown that vigilance does not always require confrontation. Sometimes, it begins with a letter.