AT LEAST 26 construction workers have been re-assigned to other government projects after losing their jobs due to the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in flood control projects (FCP).
National Union of Building and Construction Workers (NUBCW) Secretary General Santiago V. Nolla said the redeployment was facilitated to ensure that affected workers continue earning while the probe is underway.
‘We recommended that they transfer to other projects.Some have already joined the [Department of Transportation’s] railway project in Pampanga, while others are now working on the Metro Manila Subway along Mindanao Avenue,’ Nolla told the BusinessMirror in a text message.
Of the 26 displaced workers, 17 were absorbed by the Malolos-Clark Railway Project, while nine were transferred to the Metro Manila Subway Project.
Earlier, this newspaper reported that several construction workers had been placed in ‘hanging’ status for weeks as the government investigates alleged anomalies in flood control projects.
Their employment was disrupted after subcontractors they worked for were blacklisted along with firms named by President Marcos in the probe.
Nolla said NUBCW, in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), is still conducting profiling to determine the total number of construction workers affected by the corruption investigation.
He added, however, that many of the flagged projects had no actual laborers on-site.
‘Many projects didn’t really have workers. The funds were simply taken and that’s the sad reality,’ Nolla said.
Skilled workers easy to find new jobs
MEANWHILE, Nolla said the recent rebound in construction employment-after a reported dip in July-underscores the strong demand for skilled workers, allowing many to quickly find new jobs despite the ongoing flood control probe.
Results from the August 2025 Labor Force Survey showed that construction employment rose from 4.60 million in July to 5.28 million in August, equivalent to 672,000 additional jobs.
‘There are plenty of jobs in the industry right now, and many companies are looking for skilled workers, so they’re readily hired. They were affected, yes, but they were able to find new work quickly because of their skills,’ he explained.
DOLE Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma, however, clarified that the ongoing probe into ghost flood control projects itself would not lead to job losses.
‘For me, this will not result in job losses because obviously there are no workers who have been hired as there’s really no project to speak about,’ Laguesma told the BusinessMirror.
He clarified, however, that this does not mean the construction industry is entirely immune to displacement.
‘We are not saying there will be no job losses. There will also be job losses but based on other reasons like project completion or termination for just causes,’ he added.
Laguesma stressed that legitimate projects will still proceed under closer government oversight.
‘The real and actual projects will still continue but this time under close monitoring and scrutiny,’ he said.