The National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-CEVRO) has begun inspecting billion-peso flood control projects in Cebu’s 7th District amid growing questions over their scope and implementation.
On September 30, NBI agents visited Malabuyoc, particularly Barangays Mindanao, Montañeza, and Sorsogon, to check projects handled by QM Builders, Q Con (Quirante Construction Corp.), and Legacy Construction Corp.
DPWH engineer Jimmy Jacaban, who accompanied the agents, said at least six sections in Malabuyoc were already ‘good as done’ and had helped prevent severe flooding in low-lying areas.
Despite the controversy that triggered the ongoing investigation, local officials strongly defended the flood control initiatives.
Dumanjug Mayor Gungun Gica said the projects were long overdue for small towns in the district.
‘Ako as Mayor sa Dumanjug and part of the 7th District, I’m very proud nga natagad gayud ang mga problema sa distrito labi na sa among lungsod,’ he said.
He recalled the devastation of Typhoon Odette, which washed out national roads in Alegria and Malabuyoc, as well as earlier disasters such as Typhoon Sinyal in Ronda and Dumanjug, as proof of the need for flood mitigation.
‘Daghan ang nabuhat nga kaayohan sa flood control diri sa among distrito,’ he said, adding that lives have already been saved because of these projects.
Gica dismissed allegations of ghost projects. ‘Wala juy ghost project dinhi unya gitarong jud og trabaho,’ he said, noting that works in Dumanjug are either completed or ongoing.
Malabuyoc Mayor Erlinda ‘Edang’ Piedad also defended the P3.1 billion allocation for her town, the highest in Cebu.
‘Ang Malabuyoc dili mahitsura tungod sa Bagyong Odette,’ she said, recalling fatalities and houses swept away in 2020.
She stressed that the projects were implemented solely by the DPWH, not the local government.
‘Dili ang LGU ang implementing body ana. Si kinsa man sad kong mobabag or dili modawat sa mga proyekto ibubo sa Malabuyoc,’ she said, adding that drainage, seawalls, and flood control systems were badly needed.
‘Gamay tuod ang Malabuyoc nga population pero dako man sad mig sapa,’ she said.
DPWH mum on issue
While local officials were vocal, DPWH 7th District Engineer Edelberto Francisco declined to comment, citing what he described as a ‘gag order’ from Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon.
Reporters were instead given a ‘Media Registration Form’ requiring them to list questions or documents they wanted to access.
A DPWH personnel explained that under the new protocol, all media inquiries must first be endorsed by the district office to the regional office, which will then secure clearance from the central office.
Biggest allocation in Cebu
Government records show that Cebu’s 7th District cornered P12.06 billion worth of flood control works from 2022 to 2025-nearly half of the province’s total allocation.
Of 395 projects in Cebu, 162 were concentrated in the district. Malabuyoc received P3.1 billion for 38 projects, while Dumanjug got P2.18 billion for 29 projects.
The district covers Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal, Badian, Alegria, Malabuyoc, and Ginatilan.