Barangay officials tapped to probe failed flood control projects in Malolos
Malolos City Mayor Christian Natividad has designated all barangay officials in the city as members of a “People’s Audit Team” to look into the alleged substandard, abandoned, and ghost flood control projects implemented in the area.
The unfinished and abandoned flood control projects in the coastal village of Babatnin, Malolos City, Bulacan. (Photo by Freddie Velez)
Natividad, who is also a lawyer, said he directed barangay captains to submit detailed reports on the status of projects in their areas.
The initiative, he explained, aims to document irregularities and push for accountability in projects that have long been left unfinished.
The mayor added that the city government had written to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan 1st District Office to request an official list of flood control projects.
However, he said the office has yet to respond.
The mayor said he ordered a halt to any attempts to revive stalled projects.
He also stressed that no construction or rehabilitation should be carried out in sites where unfinished or ghost projects have been flagged.
Natividad said the long-stalled and unfinished programs can be considered as half ghost flood control projects and a "scene of the crime" that should be investigated.
He said they will voluntarily investigate and after the validation, even without any documents or information from DPWH districts, they will pass it on to the regional office.
"Pupunta kami doon kasama lahat ang kapitan ng mga barangay, iimbitahan ko ang media at ipapasa namin nang buong buo ang aming audit report at 'scene of the crime' ng substandard and ghost project ng siyudad Malolos (We will go there with village captains, along with invited media, and we will present our audit report and the 'scene of the crime' of the substandard and ghost projects in the city of Malolos)," Natividad said.
Natividad also warned contractors or individuals against resuming work on the questionable projects, saying barangay officials should immediately alert his office if such attempts occur.