With each hurricane or heavy downpour, giant elements of Bulacan find yourself below water. Flooding has lengthy been a reality of life within the province situated in Central Luzon, regardless of billions of pesos in public funds being poured into flood management initiatives through the years.
Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson stated in his privilege speech on Wednesday, August 20, that Bulacan is the “most infamous by way of anomalies” in flood management initiatives of the Division of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). From 2021 to 2024, Bulacan bagged a complete of P43.5 billion price of flood management contracts.
Flood management works are a shared accountability of the nationwide and native governments. Main initiatives in principal rivers and river basins are dealt with and funded by the DPWH, whereas native governments are anticipated to tackle smaller works involving creeks and minor waterways, in response to DPWH Order 25 (2015). The flood management contracts on the web site launched by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on August 11 are all below the DPWH, and never the native authorities.
Rappler regarded into which municipalities, cities, and districts cornered the largest shares of those contracts.
The town of Baliwag takes the lead with P6.02 billion in flood management contracts from 87 initiatives. However based mostly on a flooding hazard map, most elements of Baliwag should not even vulnerable to excessive flooding.
Simply this week, President Marcos visited the town to confirm a citizen’s criticism a few non-existent however totally paid P55-million strengthened concrete riverwall undertaking. Marcos stated the ghost undertaking was an “instance of falsification…as a result of it was reported as accomplished.”
The Baliwag Metropolis authorities, nevertheless, denied any involvement within the ghost flood management initiatives that Marcos inspected and flagged.
“This undertaking didn’t undergo the Metropolis Authorities, nor was any doc submitted to the Metropolis Engineering Workplace, nor was there any coordination with any workplace of the LGU,” the town authorities stated in an announcement launched on Thursday, August 21.
San Jose del Monte Metropolis, Bulacan’s largest metropolis and gateway to Metro Manila, ranked second with P3.63 billion (47 contracts). But a hazard map confirmed that the town just isn’t vulnerable to floods.
Shut behind are Balagtas (P3.25 billion, 45 contracts) and Guiguinto (P3.07 billion, 49 contracts).
The flood-prone fishing city of Hagonoy additionally acquired a hefty P3.05 billion from 43 initiatives. Malolos Metropolis, the provincial capital, was allotted P3.04 billion for 45 initiatives.
Different prime recipients embody Plaridel (P2.5 billion, 41 initiatives) and Meycauayan Metropolis (P2.44 billion, 39 initiatives).
Calumpit, a city usually hit by river overflows, had 37 initiatives price P2.18 billion. The Senate probe flagged alleged ghost flood management initiatives in Calumpit and neighboring Hagonoy, linked to Wawao Builders, one of many prime contractors earlier recognized by Marcos.
San Miguel secured P1.99 billion for 27 initiatives. Whereas Bocaue, dwelling to the Philippine Area and Senator Joel Villanueva’s turf, received P1.78 billion (33 initiatives). Santa Maria adopted with P1.64 billion (28 initiatives).
The coastal city of Obando, usually battered by tidal flooding, secured 18 flood management initiatives price P1.44 billion. Regardless of being extremely flood-prone, it solely ranked thirteenth by way of flood management undertaking allocations.
The municipality of Bustos, dwelling to the Bustos Dam, acquired P1.37 billion for twenty-four initiatives, whereas Pandi was allotted P1.28 billion for 15 initiatives.
Smaller allocations went to San Ildefonso (P922.3 million, 11 initiatives), Bulakan (P892.2 million, 15 initiatives), and San Rafael (P721.3 million, 12 initiatives).
Paombong, a city extremely vulnerable to flooding, acquired solely P515.5 million for 11 flood management initiatives.
Norzagaray acquired P505.6 million for 10 initiatives, whereas Angat secured P474.3 million for 11 initiatives.
Close to the underside, Marilao acquired P412.3 million for eight initiatives, whereas Pulilan received P209.3 million for seven initiatives.
The mountainous city of Doña Remedios Trinidad or generally often called DRT acquired the bottom share with P147.2 million for 2 initiatives. The municipality was named after the late mom of then–first girl Imelda Romualdez Marcos, who traced her roots to the province.
Which districts cornered the funds?
Bulacan’s 2nd District emerged as the highest recipient of flood management initiatives, cornering almost P9.9 billion or 22.74% of the province’s complete allocation. The district covers the cities of Baliwag, Bustos, and Plaridel, and is presently represented by Congresswoman Tina Pancho.
The Pancho household has lengthy dominated the district. Patriarch Pedro Pancho and his son Gavini “Apol” Pancho beforehand held the congressional seat earlier than it was handed on to Tina. The household additionally owns C.M. Pancho Development Inc.
Rappler’s evaluation of the flood management undertaking database launched by Malacañang confirmed that the Pancho-led agency was not concerned in any flood management initiatives. Nonetheless, public paperwork reveal that it has secured a number of highway initiatives in Bulacan.
The 2nd District acquired almost the identical allocation as the first District, at P9.89 billion (22.73%). The first District contains Hagonoy, Malolos, Calumpit, Bulakan, Paombong, and Pulilan. It’s represented in Congress by Danilo A. Domingo, after many years of management by the Sy-Alvarado household: notably Wilhelmino, Victoria, and Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado.
Wilhelmino additionally served as Bulacan governor and vice governor. In 2025, he tried a gubernatorial put up comeback however misplaced to his former ally, Daniel Fernando.
The fifth District, led by Congresswoman Agatha Paula A. Cruz, adopted with P9.39 billion (21.58%). This district covers Balagtas, Guiguinto, Bocaue, and Pandi. It’s comparatively new, created in 2021. Its first elected consultant was Ambrosio C. Cruz Jr., Agatha’s father and the present mayor of Guiguinto.
By comparability, allocations for the third and 4th Districts lagged far behind, receiving solely 8.69% and 9.88%, respectively, of the province’s complete.
The third District (San Miguel, San Ildefonso, San Rafael, and Doña Remedios Trinidad) is represented by Mark Cholo I. Violago, a first-time congressman who succeeded Lorna C. Silverio.
The 4th District (Meycauayan, Obando, and Marilao) is represented by Linabelle Ruth Villarica. Her husband, Henry R. Villarica, additionally served because the district’s consultant and is now mayor of Meycauayan. The Villaricas are house owners of Villarica Pawnshop.
On the backside of the record have been the sixth District (Santa Maria, Angat, and Norzagaray) and the lone district of San Jose del Monte Metropolis (SJDM), which collectively accounted for lower than 15% of all allocations.
The sixth District, additionally newly created, is represented by Salvador A. Pleyto.
Bulacan Vice Governor Alex Castro, in an interview with ABS-CBN, stated they have been stunned by the multi-billion-peso flood management initiatives within the province. He stated that these initiatives are applied by the nationwide authorities and don’t undergo the provincial authorities.
Right here’s one other visualization of how flood management budgets have been distributed throughout Bulacan’s cities and legislative districts:
Rappler has additionally launched a crowdsourcing initiative to collect first-hand accounts from the general public on flood management initiatives of their areas and monitor the standing of those initiatives nationwide. Share your experiences by means of the FloodControlPH channel on the Rappler Communities app (out there on net, iOS, and Android). – Rappler.com
