Where did the billions in flood control projects go?

As the rains return, so does Metro Manila’s knee-deep problem…

The Boast: 5,500 Projects—But Where?

In his 2024 State of the Nation Address, President Bongbong Marcos famously declared that his administration had completed over 5,500 flood control projects, with more than 650 located in Metro Manila. But this final week of June, just days short of the SONA anniversary, rains once again submerged streets across the capital. España Boulevard, Quezon Avenue, and C5-Ortigas turned into canals. Marikina residents anxiously watched flood levels rise. Same script, different year.

Despite all the supposed spending, Metro Manila still floods with just an hour of rain. What exactly were these 650 “projects”?

The Man with the ₱500-Billion Plan

Marcos proposed a ₱500-billion master plan involving 10 major flood mitigation projects to be completed by 2037, including high dams and floodways.

But even the President seems to recognize the delivery gap. By November 2024, he went on the defensive, claiming criticism of the flood control program was “unfair” and insisting projects take time to materialize.

A month later, in December 2024, he removed ₱16.7 billion worth of flood control funds from the 2025 budget—labeling them “redundant” or “inefficient.”

READ: Are spillways a probable measure to mitigate flooding?

Not Building Better, Not Building More

What are these “projects,” really? Critics and watchdogs say many are cosmetic fixes: roadside declogging or repainted curbs rebranded as infrastructure achievements. Meanwhile, vital structural upgrades—like pump stations or river channeling—remain stalled.

An Al Jazeera report notes that only one of nine key flood control projects nationwide has been completed under Marcos. Bureaucratic delays, poor inter-agency coordination, and overreliance on “grey infrastructure” like dikes and drainage systems are common pitfalls. These are often prioritized over nature-based solutions like watershed restoration or wetland preservation—approaches known to reduce long-term flood risk.

Even projects co-financed by international donors, such as the Metro Manila Flood Management Project, are beset by delays. Contractors report lags in permits, approvals, and fund disbursement. Yes, informal settlements and poor waste disposal contribute—but these pale next to the program’s systemic flaws.

A Flood of Promises

This isn’t just mismanagement—it’s strategic obfuscation. Public works reports cite “project completion” but avoid discussing effectiveness or resilience outcomes. The public hears numbers. What people don’t see: functioning pump stations, unclogged waterways, or safe passage during monsoon season.

If the Marcos administration truly delivered 5,500 flood control projects, where is the map? Who were the contractors? Which ones were bid out, completed, monitored, or replicated?

Until these questions are answered with transparency and accountability, every storm will drain not just our streets—but our patience.