Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. warned that corruption in flood control projects is costing lives and undermining the country’s long-term resilience against disasters, describing it as nothing less than a “crime against the nation.”

Teodoro made the remark at a post-disaster briefing on Super Typhoon Nando and preparations for incoming Tropical Cyclone Opong presided by President Marcos Jr. at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center (NDRRMOC), Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Wednesday, Sept. 24.

“Talagang ito ay sala sa bayan. Mapatunayan dapat kung sino ang may kinalaman dito dahil buhay talaga nakasalalay dito (This is truly a crime against the nation. It must be proven who are involved because lives are really at stake here),” he said.

The defense chief said flood control projects should be treated as a critical national government initiative because river systems cross multiple municipalities and provinces.

“Ang mga ilog at river systems hindi naiiwan sa isang munisipyo, distrito o probinsya at heavy ang construction, engineering design, and work na kailangan (Rivers and river systems do not remain within just one municipality, district, or province, and the construction, engineering design, and work required are extensive),” he explained.

Teodoro pointed out that Marcos himself expressed anger after discovering that the administration’s infrastructure plan was not followed in certain areas.

He warned that misuse of funds meant for flood control and river management undermines connectivity, disrupts master plans, and ultimately costs lives.

“Leksyon din ito na dapat tuluy-tuloy ang implementation ng mga master plan sa lalong madaling panahon ng mga river and road systems. System ang pinaguusapan dito, connectivity (This is also a lesson that the implementation of master plans for river and road systems must continue as soon as possible. What we are talking about here is a system, connectivity),” Teodoro stated.

“Ngayon kapag ito nadelay, nagiiba ang daloy ng mga ilog kaya may ibang area na naaapektuhan. Itong pera na ito, sana napunta sa tama, whether sa national defense or resilience ng communities. Kaya ito dapat may managot at credible ang proseso. Dapat may magbayad dito (Now, when this is delayed, the flow of the rivers changes, causing other areas to be affected. This money should have gone to the right purpose, whether for national defense or community resilience. That is why there must be accountability and a credible process. Someone must be held responsible for this),” he stressed.

Marcos created an Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to investigate reports of “ghost” flood control projects and substandard works in Bulacan and other provinces, with billions to trillions of pesos allegedly lost to corruption.

Teodoro emphasized that if properly implemented, flood control systems could have minimized casualties and damage from storms.

Meanwhile, Teodoro also warned that widespread soil saturation from Nando could worsen flooding and landslides in several regions as Opong is expected to barrel through parts of the Visayas and Southern Luzon later this week.

He said Calabarzon (Region 4A) and Metro Manila are already experiencing persistent rainfall, leaving the ground in many areas unable to absorb additional water. Samar provinces and Sorsogon are also expected to face strong winds and heavy rain once Opong arrives.

“Saturated na rin ang ibang areas sa dadaanan ni Opong. Of course ‘yung tatamaan ng malakas na hangin would be Northern Samar, Samar provinces, and probably Sorsogon but ‘yung saturated kasi kahit moderate rain lamang na tuluy-tuloy is Calabarzon and Metro Manila so ‘yun ang dapat paghandaan (Some areas along Opong’s path are already saturated. Of course, those that will be hit by strong winds would be Northern Samar, the Samar provinces, and probably Sorsogon. But the saturated areas, where even continuous moderate rain could cause problems, are Calabarzon and Metro Manila, and those are what we need to prepare for),” Teodoro said.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has requested additional monitoring from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to assess potential landslide and flood-prone zones.

Power restoration efforts remain ongoing in parts of Ilocos (Region 1) while road clearing and logistics prepositioning are underway to ensure timely delivery of food packs, medicines, and relief items.

Marcos, according to the DND chief, was satisfied with the government’s preparations for Nando and Opong.

“The President is satisfied to hear the extent of the preparations and the prepositioning of needed goods and supplies, particularly in Batanes,” Teodoro said.