It’s been two months since the flood control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) were uncovered to not entirely exist—just like ghosts—however, there are still no convictions. Will we just sit still and let ourselves be fooled by these schemes, letting our taxes go into the pockets of the corrupt?
Over the past three years, there are 15 listed contractors that bagged ₱100 billion in flood control projects, which were not felt over the continuous flooding that Filipinos experience. Instead of our taxes being used to build infrastructures that would help improve our lives, it’s being deprived of us, as if we aren’t the ones paying for these projects. It is those that have the power that take advantage of the benefits of our taxes.
On Oct. 2, it was reported during the Department of Health (DOH) budget hearing that 400 out of 600 health care facilities remain unfinished because of the contractors’ lapses. Married couple Curlee Discaya and Sarah Discaya—one of the identified contractors on the flood control list—were found to also be linked to these hospital projects that never saw the light. Meanwhile, there are not enough health facilities in the country to fill the healthcare needs of the people. Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) from 2021 showed that in 10,000 people, there are only 9.7 hospital beds available in the Philippines.
While the Discayas are splurging on ₱42 million Rolls-Royce car over a free umbrella they probably won’t even use, there are families out there that lost their homes because of the continuous flooding in the country, and even college students like us who try to shield ourselves with cheap umbrellas to come to class dry.
Trick or treat?
Several lawmakers are alleged to have received “kickbacks” from the flood control ghost projects. On Sept. 25, Senator Chiz Escudero, and former Senators Bong Revilla and Nancy Binay were named by former DPWH official Roberto Bernardo. Then on Oct. 29 Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) had identified Senator Joel Villanueva, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co, and Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Mario Lipana to have involvement in the scandal. In addition, political dynasties such as Singons, Gos, Gardiolas, Gonzaleses, among many others were tied back to have connections to the contractors.
It is not the first time that the country experienced the public funds being misused and corrupted by officials. A similar situation broke out in 2013, known as the “Pork Barrel Scam” when ₱10 billion under the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) that was supposed to be used to help fund projects for non-government organizations (NGO) was instead used for ghost projects that were kickedbacked to lawmakers.
Janet Lim Napoles, a businesswoman who created a network of fake NGOs was heavily involved in this scheme, alongside her were politicians that were indicted for plunder and multiple counts of graft namely Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Estrada and Bong Revilla. Napoles was convicted, however, the named politicians roam free and still sit in power—most of which are once again involved in the ghost project scheme.
It remains to be the cycle of the same tricks to fool the masses and cheat us out of the public service we deserve. It is a horror to witness these schemes happen repeatedly while common citizens work day and night to gain wages that the government takes a percentage of, as well as 12% Value Added Tax (VAT) on every goods or services we avail on top of the inflation rate increasing in our country.
President Bongbong Marcos said in an interview with Manila Bulletin on holding those involved accountable, “Many of these people are not innocent. But if you are going to bring them to court, you must have a very strong case.” However, is the evident misuse of funds that came from the pockets of the Filipino people not enough to be a strong case against these politicians and contractors?
History should not repeat itself and become an endless cycle of the citizens being put in a whirlpool where we always lose against the powerful. The citizens are angry and call for accountability, for we want all those that are involved in these ghost projects to be convicted.
We won’t let this matter be ghosted like the projects that we were supposed to get. Fasten the investigations and their conviction. The longer we wait, the louder and angrier the voices of the Filipino people become.
