DBM chief ready to help unearth truth in flood control projects
A flood control project. (Santi San Juan)
Help is on the way from the Department of Budget and Management to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure.
DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said on Thursday, Oct. 9, that she is ready to help the body ferret out the truth about systemic corruption in flood control projects in many provinces, particularly in Luzon.
Pangandaman vowed assistance after Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon on Thursday disclosed that 421 out of 8,000 inspected flood control projects across the country, most of them in Luzon, are "ghost projects" or practically non-existent.
The DBM chief said she has been invited by the ICI to attend a special meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 14, in Manila to provide a comprehensive understanding of the national budget process and ensure that the body’s exercise of its mandate aligns fully with prevailing statutes, jurisprudence, and administrative issuances.
She welcomed the invitation and stressed that cooperation between oversight and implementing bodies is crucial in fostering fiscal transparency and ensuring the efficient use of public resources.
“The DBM fully supports the ICI’s mission to promote transparency, integrity, and accountability in infrastructure spending, in the spirit of open governance and public trust,” Pangandaman said in a statement.
The discussion will also focus on the release of unprogrammed funds, particularly those linked to flood control and related infrastructure projects.
The ICI said its initiative stems from the growing public concern over reports of alleged irregularities, misuse of funds, and possible corruption in certain government-funded flood control projects.
These incidents, according to the ICI, not only threaten public safety but also erode citizens’ trust in government institutions.