Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairperson Sen. Erwin Tulfo said on Sunday, August 9 he will conduct an investigation into substandard government infrastructure projects and holding those responsible to account.

Senator Erwin Tulfo (Senate PRIB photo)

Tulfo said the investigation into substandard government infrastructure projects would be on top of the probe into “ghost” projects where new names have recently emerged.

“Apart from the new names and issues connected to flood control mess, we will also investigate substandard projects. Bridges, roads, and public works that clearly failed to meet standards. We will investigate them one by one,” Tulfo said in a radio interview.

“Obviously there’s corruption in there because you are given this certain amount of budget to construct these structures according to standards, but it’s unfinished or subpar,” he added.

The blue ribbon panel is now coordinating with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other related agencies, Tulfo said.

Tulfo stressed the urgency of such probe after a major retaining wall along EDSA-Ayala northbound in Makati City collapsed following a series of typhoons, blocking two crucial lanes and paralyzing metro traffic.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon flagged the structure after revealing that the collapsed segment was dangerously constructed using light board material instead of reinforced concrete.

While the senator emphasized his readiness to expand the flood control probe as new leads and high-ranking figures emerge, he made it clear that the Blue Ribbon Committee is also simultaneously zeroing in on systemic corruption across other agencies.

He underscored that the flood control scam is just one among numerous corruption issues that need to be unraveled.

“Corruption has plagued this system for too long, and we are tackling it head-on, one issue at a time. We will be strict in gathering rock-solid evidence, and we will conduct this strictly by the book,” he stressed.